“Throwing ourselves entirely into the care of our Divine Compassionate Shepherd!”

(Based on 1 Jn 4:7-10 and Mk 6:34-44 – Tuesday after Epiphany)

A missionary priest – who had spent many years in the missions – while addressing a group of seminarians exhorted:

“Life often takes us through moments of questioning of our capabilities!

‘How can I….?’ will be a question that will often haunt you!

But with my tough experience in the missions, I can confidently tell, that life becomes so much easier when we turn around the apprehensive question, ‘How can I…?’
…. to an affirmative quest “Why can’t I, with Christ?”

Yes… one of the easiest doubts that often crops up in our daily life is the “doubt in our abilities” – “How can I….?”

How can I do the job?
How can I be expected to study so much?
How can I ever succeed in such a situation?
… etc.

Such doubtings of our abilities can leave many of our plans and aspirations to be at a standstill…

The Gospel of the Day brings us face-to-face with such kind of a situation – a situation of “doubts in abilities.”

It was a late evening…

The Lord had finished preaching the Word of God to a large crowd of people.

The disciples sensed that it had got too late and requested the Lord to send the people away…
… so that they could fetch some food for themselves.

“This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” (Mk 6: 36)

But the Lord had different plans… as always!

The Lord loves to challenge us in our comforts
The Lord loves to let loose our lethargic leanings
The Lord loves to instigate our insipid inhibitions

He tells the disciples, “You give them something to eat” (Mk 6: 37)

This statement came as a shocker for the disciples. “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” (Mk 6:37)

The disciples were not prepared to accept the challenge of the Lord

They perhaps thought from a financial point of view…

It would be too expensive to feed so many!
… And doubting their ability, they thought – “How can it be possible?”

They perhaps thought from a sociological point of view…

It would be too impractical to handle so many!
… And doubting their ability, they thought – “How can it be possible?”

They perhaps thought from a comfort point of view…

It would be a botheration for us to look after so many!
… And doubting their ability, they thought – “How can it be possible?”

Logic sometimes tells us that some things are too hard.

Reason sometimes prompts us that some situations are too bad.

But the Lord invites them to look at the strength of their ability… which is He Himself!

When problems come, we often “doubt our abilities” because we look only into ourselves…

We fail to look to the Lord, Who is the solution to our problems.

When difficulties encompass us, we often “doubt our abilities” because we think that we are the master of everything…

We fall short of recognizing the power of God, which is, in fact, our true strength.

When crisis befalls us, we often “doubt our abilities,” because we get totally tensed and worried within ourselves…

We do not look up and see the hand of God, waiting to lead and guide us.

The disciples, who were “doubting their abilities”, finally let themselves into the ways of the Lord…

And then the miracle happened!

When we entrust everything into God’s hands, miracles occur

Before the Lord…
… logic can dissolve!
… reason can be floored!

Yes…
… Life will continue to challenge us with problems, wherein we “doubt our abilities.”
… Life will always ambush us with painful difficulties, wherein we “doubt our abilities.”

Let all those moments, be a chance for us to allow the Lord to multiply His blessings in us…
… to let the Lord increase His grace in us.

Let us see to turn around the apprehensive question, ‘How can I…?’
…. to an affirmative quest “Why can’t I, with Christ!”

Today we celebrate the feast of the words of St Raymond of Penafort

He was a 13th century Domican Friar, who documented many legislations, that were on use, till the promulgation of the Canon Law in 1917
It was at his request that St. Thomas Aquinas wrote the ‘Summa contra gentiles,’ a theological exposition against the heathens.

Let his words inspire us as Pilgrims of Hope!
“May the God of love and peace, set your hearts at rest..
… and speed you on your journey

May He meanwhile, shelter you from disturbance by others
… in the hidden recesses of His love,
Until He brings you, at last, into that place of complete plenitude, where you will repose forever…
… in the vision of peace
… in the security of trust
… and in the restful enjoyment of His riches.”

Let us throw ourselves entirely into the care of our Divine Compassionate Shepherd!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints.
Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future…
… and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it.

Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility. (CCC # 2115)