After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” Jesus asked them, “How many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Jesus was moved with pity as he saw the countless needs of the people in the crowds before him. We are called to have compassion and “to harden not our hearts” as we see the pains and struggles in the people of our time. Just as the disciples did, we may feel overwhelmed. We may ponder: “But what can I do?” or “Where could I ever get enough to respond?” Jesus speaks to the disciples and to us: Use what you have been given, and I will do the miracles. As we begin our Advent journey, pray that God will open our eyes to see what God wants us to see. In looking upon the places where people struggle amidst the pandemic, racial injustice, the loss of work, alienation, and insecurity, do whatever you can. Everything can make a difference. —Rick Krivanka serves as Executive Director of the Jesuit Retreat Center in Parma, Ohio. Jesus, open my eyes. Help my heart to feel and be moved with pity as I look upon the needs and struggles of the people in my world. Lead me to see and believe in the gifts that I have been given. Guide me to use these gifts to do all that I can, knowing you will do the rest. Amen —Rick KrivankaBelieve in and use the gifts that you have, and Jesus will work the miracles
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Ignatian spirituality reminds us that God pursues us in the routines of our home and work life, and in the hopes and fears of life's challenges. The founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, created the Spiritual Exercises to deepen our relationship with Christ and to move our contemplation into service. May this prayer site anchor your day and strengthen your resolve to remember what truly matters.
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