Dedication of Saint Mary Major Basilica
Compassion Leads to Charity
Today's parable of feeding the five thousand teaches us this fundamental thing: compassion leads and should lead to charity. When Jesus looked at the large crowd which followed him, he had compassion on them and after feeding them spiritually, he fed them physically also. When we look at others in suffering, in need and those asking our help, as human beings compassion comes in our hearts, unless we have no heart, but do we take a further step to be charitable to them? Compassion alone is not enough; Charity must follow it. The example of Jesus today should inspire us to move from compassion to Charity.
The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves that we may have something to share with others, especially those who lack what they need. When God blesses us, we should be able to bless others too by our generosity. Even with the little we have, we can still do charity, we don't need much to do charity. There is no one so poor that he can't give and nobody so rich that he can't receive.
God takes the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others. The five loaves and two fish that the disciples found were practically nothing in the face of five thousand hungry people. Just like the disciples, there will be times when we feel that we have very little, even nothing, to offer to the Lord. But as we have seen in the Gospel, God accepts whatever we can offer to him, however small or humble it may be in our own eyes and multiplies it into something that can feed a multitude. As St. Therese of Lisieux says, even the smallest act of penance or charity can bring about an abundance of grace if done out of love for God and neighbor. How beautiful it is to offer Christ our nothingness, and to watch with wonder as he blesses it and turns it into something that gives life to others.
We should also always seek Jesus, and he will show us his compassion and his everlasting love. Sometimes we may feel unworthy to ask from Jesus anything, but when we come humbly to him, even though we think he is angry with us, he will have compassion on us. Just as Jesus had compassion for those who sought Him out in this story, so also, will he always have the deepest of compassion for us every time we seek Him out. If we find our lives steeped in sin, but run to Him anyway, He will look at us with compassion and mercy. He never tires of us returning to Him, seeking His healing and mercy. We should always have hope in Him and turn to Him with the greatest confidence.
When God blesses us, we should also be able to bless others by first of all having mercy and compassion on them and then moved by that compassion to do works of mercy and charity towards them. On stricter, we do not actually need much so as to do charity to others, but just a little we have. Just like the five loaves of bread and two fish fed 5000 men without counting women and women, so will also our small acts of mercy towards others bring a vast impact in their lives as transforming experiences provided, we do everything in love. The size of the gift does not matter but the love with which it is given.
Reflect today on how Jesus' compassion on the people moved him to Charity by feeding them with just five loaves of bread and two fish. When you feel that you have little to do Charity, ask God to multiply it for the good of others.
Let us Pray
Lord Jesus, help me always to follow what you did when you were here on earth physically. May my compassion always bear fruit to charity, and may you always accept me when I come back to you seeking for your mercy. Amen.
Be blessed
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