GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT

SCRIPTURE READINGS: GENESIS 32:22-31, ROMANS 9:1-5, MATTHEW 14:13-21 REFLECTION “Give them some to eat” is the theme for our reflection. To eat means “to put food into the mouth, chew and swallow it. It is natural to eat when you are hungry and this is why Jesus told his disciples to give the people food to…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Aug 1, 2023

3–5 minutes

SCRIPTURE READINGS: GENESIS 32:22-31, ROMANS 9:1-5, MATTHEW 14:13-21

REFLECTION

“Give them some to eat” is the theme for our reflection. To eat means “to put food into the mouth, chew and swallow it. It is natural to eat when you are hungry and this is why Jesus told his disciples to give the people food to eat after listening to Jesus teach for a while. (Matthew 14:16) We shall discuss the following fact as we discuss the theme.

Jesus satisfies our hunger by giving us both spiritual and physical food to eat.
When we hold onto Jesus and we shall be forever satisfied.

Firstly, Jesus has the power to satisfy our hunger. In Matthew 14:13-21, we learn that the people followed Jesus to listen to Him and to receive their deliverance. The people discovered that they were spiritually hungry therefore they followed Jesus to feed their souls but little did they know that Jesus had the power to physically satisfy hunger with five loaves of bread and two fish. Truly, “…seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33). The people sought after the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and when they were hungry Jesus fed them, numbering over 5000 people with just five loaves and two fish. Jesus is able to give us something to eat spiritually and physically because He is our Lord and Saviour. Let us not depart from Him but always yearn to have a relationship with him. Paul in the Romans 9:1-5 lamented and was disappointed in the Jews of His time because many of them had not believed in Jesus and had missed the opportunity to feed on living bread of life, Jesus Christ who God promised them through the Old Covenant. Paul lamented “I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God overall, forever praised! Amen. (Romans 9:1-5). It is possible to be born in the Church but because of disobedience and unbelief, we may not become the beneficiaries of the spiritual and physical food that Jesus feeds His own.

Secondly, we must hold onto Jesus in faith and never let go of Him and we shall never go hungry. Like Jacob in Genesis 32-22-31, we must not let go of Jesus, we must firmly hold onto Him in faith for our souls and bodies to receive His blessings. “When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:25-26) Holding on to Jesus in faith will keep us satisfied and blessed. Jacob was hungry for blessings and so he held on to the Angel of God. Luke tells us that many disciples were leaving Jesus after He had spoken about His suffering “…then Jesus asked, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66-69). Like Jacob and the disciples of Christ, we must also be hungry for righteousness, blessings, prosperity and eternal life by holding onto Christ through our faith. Jesus assures in Matthew 5:6 that “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. We must demonstrate our faith and zeal for Christ through prayer, Bible study and totally submitting ourselves as living sacrifices to Him.

In summary, the theme for our reflection is “Give them something to eat” We discussed the two points: Jesus satisfies our hunger by giving us both spiritual and physical food to eat and when hold onto Jesus and we shall be forever satisfied. May the Holy Spirit continually give us the passion to hunger after Jesus the bread of life.