Overcoming the fear of Insufficiency (Homily for the 17th Sunday in ordinary time year B July 28 2024

Homily for the 17th Sunday in ordinary time year B July 28 2024

2kgs 4:42-44; Psalm 145; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 6:1-5

Overcomin the fear of Insufficiency 

It is prudent to assess one's capacity before undertaking any project. Embarking on a project without adequate resources often leads to abandonment and subsequent embarrassment. While this principle is generally sound, today's readings teach us that it should not be applied to acts of charity. Planning and executing charity based solely on one's capacity limits the potential of God's abundance. To truly answer the call to give, we need not be sufficient, but willing. The God of abundance will bless our willingness and make it sufficient. As the psalmist proclaims, "You open your hand, Lord, and you satisfy us."

Today's first reading and gospel share a common theme. In both narratives, the master instructs that food be distributed to many, despite the servant's reluctance due to the limited supply. However, the master insists, and miraculously, the food becomes sufficient with leftovers. This sufficiency is not due to a miscalculation by the servant but because of divine intervention. By the end of both stories, the servants understand why their masters insisted on sharing the limited food.

In the gospel, the crowd did not ask Jesus for food, just as the men did not ask Elisha. Yet, both Elisha and Jesus took the initiative to feed them. Every prompting to help someone is not merely a product of our thoughts but divine inspiration. Ignoring such promptings is turning down the voice of God. When Jesus asked Philip where they could buy bread for the crowd, He was testing Philip's willingness to present their limited resources.

Elisha's servant and Andrew hesitated to share the little bread, not out of selfishness, but because, from a human perspective, it seemed insufficient. Sharing food is a delicate matter, and many judge the success of a celebration by the sufficiency of food and souvenirs. The reluctance of Elisha's servant and Andrew was an attempt to avoid potential disaster, not selfishness but prudence.

At first glance, these readings encourage us to be generous with what we have, recognizing that all we have is from God. However, a deeper reflection reveals a more profound lesson: we must not let our limitations prevent us from doing good. Do not refrain from doing good because you feel inadequate. Often, people say, "Don't start what you cannot finish." While this is true, when it comes to charity, the Lord encourages us to present our insufficient selves. In God's work, sufficiency comes from sharing, not saving.

If you wait until you have ample time to work for God, you will never have enough time. But if you work for God with the little time you have, He will grant you more time. If you wait to be financially stable before supporting God's work, you will never feel stable enough. But if you support with what little you have, God will bless you with greater stability. If you wait for others to do good to you before repaying with kindness, you will never find a reason to be kind. But if you are kind to the best of your ability, God will bring kind people into your life. If you only stand for the truth when your security is ensured, you will never stand for the truth. But if you dare to be truthful in small matters, God will secure you entirely.

To be charitable, we must overcome not only selfishness but also feelings of inadequacy. We should never underestimate the value of small acts of kindness. Often, our acts of kindness have a far greater impact than we realize. Sometimes, we never know how much our small gestures improve lives. The lack of gratitude does not mean few benefited. People often appreciate what they have only when it becomes scarce. Therefore, be good even without applause. In due time, God's applause will come.

Before distributing the fish and bread, Jesus asked the people to sit down. He gave to those who obeyed. We can infer that those who did not sit did not receive anything. Similarly, many seek divine intervention but only those who "sit" where Jesus is will be attended to. We cannot distance ourselves from the Lord or remain disobedient and still expect His blessings. God does not thrive in disorder. Jesus was orderly, ensuring that nothing was wasted. A culture of waste is an injustice to the poor. What remains after eating rightfully belongs to the poor.

In all of this, Jesus is leading us somewhere. We have just begun the Bread of Life discourse. Over the next four Sundays, we will journey further with Jesus on this topic of "food."

Godbless you all