Practical Faith

Today’s Gospel:  In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him, and said to them, 2 "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; 3 and if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come a long way." 4 And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these men with bread here in the desert?" 5 And he asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven." 6 And he commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish; and having blessed them, he commanded that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate, and were satisfied; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. Mark 8:1-9

Reflection:  Sometimes, for those who are immersed in God’s word it is difficult to be practical. Here, to be practical could also mean to be pastoral in one’s approach to situation.  On the other hand there are those who are over practical and hold on to praxis approach. The balancing act is not in holding on to the middle path but to discern God’s will, for God himself is practical and yet doesn’t think as a man would think in most circumstances.

The disciples could have reminded Jesus about teaching the multitude on how to wait on the Lord and find strength and it is possible; “Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isa 40:30-31

What then would happen to the many that are not able to grasp the practical aspect of spirituality and its power? There is hope in Jesus, who cares for even the least important member.

The Gospel text reminds us that even though Jesus and his disciples had nothing yet Jesus thinks of them and likewise teaches the disciple the practical aspect of reaching out in love rather than the other way.

If you have faith then you will not test the faith of others and demand action but rather exercise your faith and feed the others lack of faith.

Prayer:  “I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." Ps 81:16 Lord, increase our faith in you.

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