Homily on the 18th Sunday in OT, 2 August 2026, FSpIF Chapel, Talamban
Allow me to begin with a very personal experience. Many years ago, after spending my summer apostolate in Lourdes Parish in Punta Princesa, I went into a crisis. I was already a deacon at that time, but I began considering the idea of not applying for priestly ordination that year. After having been immersed doing pastoral ministry in a parish setting for more than two months, I got overwhelmed by the enormous work load and I just felt too small, too inadequate and not prepared to be ordained a priest and do a mission impossible. And so, I remained in a state of crisis for the next three months. I was uncertain about my next step, whether to proceed or not. The worst thing was that, in my moments of prayer, I was not getting answers from the Lord. I seemed to be praying in front of a blank wall.
Then finally during our whole day recollection in the month of August of that same year, I came across this passage, the very same Gospel story we have heard today about Jesus miraculously multiplying loaves and the fish. At that very moment all my doubts vanished before my eyes as I received a kind of divine revelation. After a long silence, the Lord finally spoke and told me clearly what I had to do. And so I simply obeyed. I wrote my application letter and got ordained priest three months later. That was 33 years ago.
In the Gospel story we have heard today, we get a glimpse of who Jesus really is, so human and yet so divine. At first he wanted to withdraw from the crowd. He just heard the sad and tragic news of the beheading of his beloved cousin, John the Baptist. And so this could explain why he wanted to be in isolation. I guess he just wanted to grieve and spend some prayerful moments alone with his heavenly Father.
However, the vast crowd who came and arrived first to the place where he wanted to be made that longing out of reach. And surprisingly, instead of reacting inappropriately, Jesus felt pity and compassion for them. He couldn’t help but minister to them as a good shepherd would do, curing the sick and attending to all their needs, deliberately putting aside what he wanted to do for himself.
Don’t we find ourselves at times in similar situations when we just want to be alone and grieve over the untimely loss of a loved one, but we can’t because of a more pressing work we have to do? Or, don’t we sometimes want to withdraw from our busy schedule and rest for a while to pray, or sleep or take a power nap, or perhaps go out to spend some “me time” elsewhere? Then suddenly someone else comes or calls asking for help, begging for a bit of our time… and so, we are forced to delay our “me time” and offer a listening ear. Then, we end up losing all our “me time” to that person who needs help.
In the touching story recorded by St Matthew, Jesus out of his compassion and understanding heart willingly gave up his “me time”. And despite the pain he was going through he showed the crowd the full strength of his loving kindness. And responding to the call of the moment, he tried to satisfy everyone’s need.
However, the disciples did not feel the same way. They tried to push the hungry crowd away, as if wanting to dictate to Jesus what he should do. In fact, they said to their Master “… it is already late, dismiss the crowds na; let them go home na, so that they can still buy food for themselves along the way.” I guess this is what made Jesus feel a little upset. While he was already in the momentum of giving all of his heart to the people, they suddenly interrupt his work of mercy and tried to push him to dismiss the crowd. Sad to say, they failed to detect the real beating of his heart. They missed recognizing what his real passion was. What amazes us most is this.
Nevertheless, Jesus, still bent on what he wanted to do, replied with a challenge saying to them “…give them some food yourselves.” I believe, what Jesus really meant with those words was for his disciples to follow him in his act of total and selfless giving; to share whatever they have without any hesitation, without counting the cost, without doubting Divine Providence. Eventually his disciples obeyed. And so when they gave all they had, five loaves and two fish, and put them all in his sacred hands, the miracle of multiplication took place, and the hungry crowd of five thousand plus ate to their heart’s content. The food was super abundant, that several baskets of scraps were left-over.
What is this story telling us, especially during these difficult times? No matter what the situation might be, the Lord feels what is in our hearts; the Lord cares for our many needs; and the Lord provides for what we ask for. And no matter how little our share or contribution might be, if we give them all away and put them in his sacred hands, the miracle of multiplication will definitely happen and it will continue to happen even today.
This is precisely what I heard Jesus telling me thirty-three years ago before my ordination. And until now as I try to carry heavy responsibilities on my shoulders, this is still what Jesus is telling me, “Give even the little you have, give them all away and put them into my hands so that the miracle and many other miracles will continue to happen for the good of everyone.
And for you? What could Jesus be telling you today in front of the difficult situation where we find yourself right now? For you, especially the young people who are here, try to ask yourselves the same question: what could Jesus be telling you with regard to your true vocation and mission in life? For you, it might seem to be an impossible mission. But if he is truly calling you, he definitely wants you to offer your life to him and put everything you have into his hands, so that by his might and power miracles may continue to happen with your help even today. I pray that you may find enlightenment in God’s Word and be made strong by the Eucharist we are celebrating right now.
Finally, as today we celebrate Parish Priests Day, let us pray for all priests particularly parish priests, as well as their assistants in the pastoral ministry, so that as God’s humble servants, they may continue to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, be faithful and fruitful in their service and thus become instruments of the Lord’s amazing miracles for the good of the people even today. GiGsss!