18th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 3rd August, 2014
Is 55:1-3; Rom 8: 35, 37-39; Mt 14:13-21
Nothing can separate us from Christ, declares the second reading, because we are part of Christ and Christ is part of us. Christ chose to be so!
Christ INVITES us to come, eat and drink from his love, from his generosity, from his compassion. He provides in times of our need, in moments of our struggle, in moments of our crises. Christ reminds us here of Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides.
Christ CHOOSES not to part with us. In the Gospel account we find the disciples telling the Lord that they could send the people away. But the Lord insists that they give the people something to eat. It is that compassion that ends in a miracle. Christ chooses to remain with us forever.
Christ REMAINS with us whether we are conscious of it or not. Nothing separates us from the Lord except our decision to keep ourselves away from Him. In our need, in our troubles, in our struggles, in our concerns...the Lord promises to be with us and provide us with every bit of care we need. Not even death, but our free choice against God can separate us from God. That places the entire burden on our part to remain with the Lord.