💖 HOMILY - AUGUST 4 💖

First Reading - Numbers 11:4-15

Gospel - Matthew 14:13-21

Today’s readings bring us face to face with the reality of human exhaustion and divine compassion. They speak to anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed, stretched beyond their limits, or unsure how to respond to the needs around them. Whether it's Moses in the wilderness or the disciples before a hungry crowd, the message is clear: God sees, God cares, and God provides—even when we feel we cannot.

In the first reading from the Book of Numbers, we find Moses at a breaking point. He is carrying the burden of a grumbling people who are tired of the manna God gives and long for the food of Egypt. But their complaints are more than just about meals—they reflect a deeper dissatisfaction, a forgetfulness of God's deliverance, and a distorted memory of their time in slavery. Moses, weary and isolated, cries out to God in anguish: “I cannot carry all this people by myself.” He is honest, vulnerable, and at the end of his strength.

In the Gospel, Jesus faces another kind of exhaustion. He has just heard of the death of John the Baptist, His cousin and forerunner, and withdraws to a deserted place to grieve. But the crowds follow Him, hungry for healing and teaching. In that moment, Jesus does not turn them away. He is moved with compassion. He heals, He teaches, and when evening comes, He feeds them—thousands of them—with just five loaves and two fish. He does not scold the disciples for their limited resources; instead, He says, “Bring them here to me.” And in His hands, what seemed too little becomes more than enough.

Dear friends, the connection between these two readings is powerful: Moses laments that he cannot carry the burden alone, and Jesus shows that no one has to. The miracle of the loaves is not just about food; it is about trust. It is about bringing to God what little we have and allowing Him to do what we cannot.

We are often like Moses—tired, frustrated, and tempted to give up. Or like the disciples—looking at the crowd and wondering how on earth we’ll manage. But today, the Word of God reminds us that when we act in faith, even the smallest offering becomes a vessel of grace.

God is not asking us to have it all together. He is asking us to come to Him with open hands and willing hearts. The need may be great, and our resources may seem few, but in Christ, there is always more than enough.

May we never be afraid to bring our weakness, our fatigue, and our limitations before God. He does not turn them away. He transforms them. And through them, He feeds the world.