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Gospel Reading for January 7, 2025 – Mark 6: 34-44
INTERDEPENDENCE
When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.” So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish. Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.
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There were five thousand men and Jesus says, “Give them some food yourselves.” The disciples could not imagine how they could feed such a big number because they would need two hundred days’ wages worth of food to do this. But as nothing is impossible with God, he asked them what they had, and what they had, Jesus multiplied to feed everyone, with leftovers of twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and some fish.
What is Jesus telling us? In Christianity, we have to think outside the box. In the spiritual realm, money and wages are at the bottom of the ladder. We need to have a deep understanding of our existence in the world. We need to acknowledge that everything we receive from God is not only for ourselves but for all of his creation. Life in this world cannot be sustained by a few countries/people alone. The sustenance of this world depends on INTERDEPENDENCE among all of God’s creatures, and this is what creates miracles.
This is why, in every human being, God’s love is sown in his/her heart. It is only with the heart that we can enter the spiritual realm and will make us understand the important WHYs of life. It is only with the heart that we will be able to realize that all of us are brothers and sisters, regardless of race and color. It is only with the heart that we can learn to be compassionate with those who have less, and have true concern for those in need.
If countries were not so concerned about what to feed to their own citizens, and would look outside their backyards, there would be no hunger and famine in this world and food shall not be wasted but fed for the sustenance of LIFE.
Let us reflect on this song written by the Hollies, and released in 1969, He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother –
The road is long with many a winding turn
that leads us to who knows where,
who knows where.
But I’m strong, strong enough to carry him.
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.
So on we go, his welfare is of my concern.
No burden is he to bear, we’ll get there.
For I know he would not encumber me.
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.
If I’m laden at all,
I’m laden with sadness,
that everyone’s heart
isn’t filled with the gladness
of love for one another.
It’s a long, long road
from which there is no return.
While we’re on the way to there
why not share?
And the load doesn’t weigh me
down at all
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.
