In today’s first reading the Israelites murmur: “Would that we had meat for food.” They remember the “good old days” as they complain: “We remember the fish we used to eat without cost in Egypt…But now we are famished.” Of course, they forget that when they were in Egypt, they were slaves with harsh and oppressive labor. God had sent Moses to redeem them, to free them from this harsh slavery. But now they complain: “what have you done for us lately?”
Like the Israelites you and I can forget the grace and gifts of God and give in to moaning and complaining. God is patient with us and listens to our complaints and laments but also challenges us to be thankful and to recognize His presence in our daily life and to be generous with the gifts we have been given.
When we recognize God’s presence in our daily life, we can also discern his Will and his Way. Jesus shows us this Way in today’s Gospel: “When he [Jesus] disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with mercy…”. Jesus shows compassion by not dwelling on His own needs but the needs of the crowd. He doesn’t need to hear them say, “We want food,” because He knows what they need even before they ask him. So, he instructs His disciples: “give them some food yourselves.”
God’s Word calls us to thankfulness and generosity. Instead of dwelling on the “good old days” let us spend some time today to reflect on God’s presence in our life today. Say a prayer of thanks to God who “walks with us on the journey of life.”