IN HIS STEPS

FRIDAY, April 29, 2022

First Reading
Acts 5:34-42
34
But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people,
stood up, ordered the men to be put outside for a short time,  and said to them, “Fellow Israelites, be
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careful what you are about to do to these men.  Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be
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someone important, and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who
were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing.  After him came Judas the Galilean at the
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time of the census. He also drew people after him, but he too perished and all who were loyal to him
were scattered.  So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this
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endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.  But if it comes from God, you will not
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be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded
by him.  After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the
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name of Jesus, and dismissed them.  So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they
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had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.  And all day long, both at the
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temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.
 
 

Psalm
Psalm 27:1.4.13-14
1
Of David.  One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: To dwell in the Lord’s house all the days of my life,
4

To gaze on the Lord’s beauty, to visit his temple.  I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the
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land of the living.  Wait for the Lord, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the Lord!
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Gospel
John 6:1-15
1
After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee [of Tiberias].  A large crowd followed him, because
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they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat
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down with his disciples.  The Jewish feast of Passover was near.  When Jesus raised his eyes and
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saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for
them to eat?”  He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.  Philip
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answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to
have a little.”  One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,  “There is a boy
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here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”  Jesus said,
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“Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined,
about five thousand in number.  Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to
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those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.  When they had had their fill,
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he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”  So they
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collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had
been more than they could eat.  When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly
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the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”  Since Jesus knew that they were going to
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come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
 
 

Reflection
MULTIPLY
I live in a bread loving household. Everyday, I always have to make sure that there is bread or else
my children will throw a fit. They love bread so much they could eat three sandwiches in one sitting.
It’s a joy to see their appetite but sometimes, it puts me on the edge whenever I’m pressured to buy
bread before it runs out.

I remember that time when we were down to the last piece. I looked at the clock. It was nearing
snack time. They were bound to ask for it in any minute. I couldn’t buy at that time, since I was
working from home. Lo and behold, my two children started clamoring for their favorite sandwich. I
told the eldest that there was only one and that they had to wait for me to finish working. By God’s
grace, there was no tantrum. My eldest took the bread, cut it in half, and gave it to her brother. No
fits, only a strengthening of relationship happened between two siblings.

Imagine what God could do with the little that we offer for someone else. In today’s gospel, the
amount of the offering was questioned. Is this sufficient? Would everyone be fed? My friends, in
God’s hands, everything multiplies – the joy, graces, compassion, mercy, resources.

The call to share is immense these days. The community pantry was this modern-day’s
multiplication miracle. God calls us to give the little that we have. He wants our trust that in time,
everything will multiply

What is God asking me to offer to Him? Can I trust that He will make things abundant in His time?