As I was listening to the  first reading from prophet Isaiah, I started thinking of the tropical storm Isaias. May God keep all on its path safe.

In the first reading, God gives a beautiful invitation: All who have no money, come eat and drink and receive blessings without paying and without cost. That’s a very attractive invitation. Isn’t it!

God offers us freely His life-changing word at no cost. Many spend a lot going for counseling and yet do not appear to show any reasonable improvements. The homilies in the Church are a great source of healing to every Christian soul that is open to God’s word. It produces the needed transformation when we are open to it, and it comes at no charge. 

Many would say that free things often do not have value, but that is not so with God’s gift. In Christ, salvation is free. Grace is given freely. The sacraments are free. God’s gifts to us are totally free. We neither can pay for the Life He has given, nor are we able to repay Him for all His blessings to us. This is so true!

In the  gospel, Jesus was moved with pity for the hungry crowd. Pity here depicts sympathetic sorrow toward the suffering, the distressed or the unhappy, and an active sensitivity to their needs. It is a pity born out of compassion on the suffering masses; He healed them and fed their hunger.

Jesus demonstrates to us that the little compassion we can give often makes a difference.

I have always encouraged people not to say an outright no to anyone who asks for help. A kind word and a generous little help could bring some solace to anyone in need even if they have to live with their problems afterward. Jesus teaches us: don’t just send them away!

Let us stop complaining we haven’t enough to share like the Apostles tried to do. If you wait until you have enough, then you would probably spend the rest of your life not helping anyone.

“They collected twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.” The worrisome truth is that there is so much wastage around us in a society where so many are in need. God’s generous giving and our wise use of his gifts have to go hand in hand.

In the second reading, Apostle Paul advices: in whatever situation we may find ourselves, may nothing in life separate us from the love of God. Is there anything at the moment that is trying to separate you from the love of God, surrender that to Christ in prayer who was moved with pity for the crowd. Our ultimate victory is in Him.

Let us pray that no problems in life will so much overwhelm any of us to the point of separating us from God. Amen!

Peace and Bles+sings to all.

Fr. JT.

Administrator