“THEY ATE, AND WERE SATISFIED” (Mark 8:8)

⏰Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Year 2 (10 February 2018 – Memorial of St. Scholastica)

????1 Kgs 12:26-32, 13:33-34; Ps 106:6-7ab, 19-20, 21-22 (R.v.4a); Mark 8:1-10

Have you ever paused to reflect on what is the authentic source of satisfaction and security in man? On a daily basis, we struggle to gain those two in our lives. With a deep reflection, one can see that satisfaction and security come more from what we help others to have than what we acquire for ourselves. In other words, generosity and selflessness works better on our behalf than greed and selfishness.

Consider the experience of Jeroboam in relation to the above position. He was given authority ten tribes of Israel, yet he felt so insecure over the remaining two which belongs to Rehoboam. And in a bid to secure his possession, he removed himself and his people from the presence of God. In trying to secure his territory, he plunged it into a deeper insecurity.

Contrast that experience of Jeroboam with the account of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. The disciples gave out the little they had and Jesus used that to feed a lot of people. In the end, everyone was satisfied (Mark 8:8).

You can see that the source of authentic satisfaction comes more from giving to others than accumulating for oneself. In fact, it is more in giving oneself for the sake of others. Yet no one can do so without absolute trust in God.

St Scholastica whose Memorial we celebrate today learnt early what it means to trust God. With that trust, she could pray to God and had a thunderstorm stop her brother, St. Benedict from leaving her one day as he wanted to.

May God also grant us such a trust in him so that, being contented with what we have, we shall seek the good of others and so gain our desired satisfaction and security. Amen.

Have a blessed and peaceful weekend. Peace be with you.