SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

The Israelites never run out complaints. They never seem to be satisfied at all despite the many miracles and wonders that they have witnessed from the 7 plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the raining down of manna from heaven. They just can't seem to reconcile all the wonderful things that God has done for them and kept on sliding back to their old ways. That's exactly how we are at times. We easily forget and tend to go back to our old ways without realizing that we are better off with where and what God has brought us. Man simply can't be satisfied as St Augustine said, "Our hearts are restless until it rest on God." This modern world of ours has brought about a high level of materialism and consumerism in our present day. People's appetites not only for food but for fame, power and wealth have gone out of control. This has greatly affected and disrupted the balance of things creating so many problems not only in the economy, but social, spiritual, and emotional aspects as well. We long and desire a lot of things that are not in line with God's will and plan for our lives. In the process we just hurt and destroy ourselves if we continue to insist on doing things our way. Nowadays, people develop all kinds of illnesses that were non existent before. Studies show that we have been consuming a lot of unhealthy foods that are disease causing and does not benefit our bodies at all. We really have to be very careful about the kind of food we eat.  In today's 1st reading the Israelites were clamoring for the kind of food that they used to enjoy in Egypt. Not even acknowledging the fact that if there's one kind of food that we should always desire to have that is the Bread of Life. Amen. Hallelujah!

Numbers 11:4b-15

4 The children of Israel lamented, “Would that we had meat for food! 5 We remember the fish we used to eat without cost in Egypt, and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now we are famished; we see nothing before us but this manna.”...

Our Catholic Church has endowed us with a very sacred or apostolic Tradition. According to Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 82: As a result the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, "does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence."  St. Paul in 2 Thes. 2:15 said "Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours." And so the Catholic Church is also consistent with the warning of St. Paul in Colossians 2:8,  "See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to the elemental powers of the world  and not according to Christ." We should constantly listen to His voice and not be distracted nor tempted to change loyalty. It is in God alone that we can find true satisfaction. There is no in between with God. We have to be aware of the fact that we have to make a stand on which side we really are. We've got to make a commitment every single day and protect our faith. It is through good works and prayer that we can safeguard the victory that Jesus has already won for us since the enemy does not want to stop and continues to wage war on us, Christians and followers of Jesus Christ. There is no denying to Jesus saving and redeeming us from all our sins. Jesus opened the gates of heaven for us when He died on the cross and paid our sins but it doesn't mean that we are all bound for heaven. Our daily choices and actions could lead us to a path that may not lead to the pearly gates of paradise. We still have to work our way into that gate and not be lenient about guarding this gift of salvation which the enemy wants to steal from us. We are bombarded day in and out by the harsh reality of life and the influences of this world we live in. There is no cause for despair if we encounter these things. The Bread that God gives us will never cause us to hunger or thirst and will give us eternal life with God in heaven. If we have consulted and entrusted to God all our decisions and continue to believe then we can be assured that what God started in us, He will be faithful to complete. In the midst of all the commotion in our lives we need to press harder to hear God's voice and direct all our focus and attention in that one voice of God who alone can show us the right way and give us the right instructions. We have a God who constantly whispers in our ear in the midst of the noise created by our surroundings. All we have to do is press our ears closer to God and do as He says. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

Psalm 81:12-13. 14-15. 16-17

R: Sing with joy to God our help.

“My people heard not my voice, and Israel obeyed me not; so I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts; they walked according to their own counsels.” R. “If only my people would hear me, and Israel walk in my ways, quickly would I humble their enemies; against their foes I would turn my hand.” R. “Those who hated the LORD would seek to flatter me, but their fate would endure forever, while Israel I would feed with the best of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would fill them.” R.

Jesus contradicted his disciples’ practical suggestion and told them to do otherwise. It's a good thing His disciples responded and cooperated with Jesus. The same with us, we may be asked by God to go out of our comfort zones and practical outlook. You know why? So that God can perform His miracle in our life. The gospel for today is about the miracle of the multiplication of the bread and feeding of the five thousand. It emphasizes the truth that God will never allow us to grow hungry and will always provide for our needs. There is no need to go anywhere else for nourishment. There is no need to go away and search elsewhere. We only have to go to God for only Him can satisfy all our longings and desires. Amen. Hallelujah!

 Matthew 14:13-21

...When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 [Jesus] said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”... 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over — twelve wicker baskets full. 21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.