17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024

I came across this story this week about a man from Iowa named Jim Koch who did something extraordinary for his wife, Lora, who was battling breast cancer. 


He wanted to show her his unwavering love and support during her difficult time.  After Lora underwent a major surgery, Jim decided to re-propose to her, even though they had already been married for 26 years! 


This small act of love not only lifted Lora’s spirits but also inspired their entire community. Jim’s gesture was a reminder of the power of love and the impact that small, thoughtful actions can have on others.


Jim said, "I’ve known Lora as the most selfless person, and as she was going through this rough patch, I really wanted to give a sign and a reminder of love and commitment." 


This simple act of re-proposing brought joy and hope to Lora and served as a beacon of love and compassion for everyone around them.


In today's Gospel, we hear a powerful story of Jesus performing the miracle of feeding the five thousand. A large crowd had followed Jesus because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick. When He saw the large crowd coming toward Him, He realized they were hungry and they had nothing to give them to eat. Andrew, spoke up and mentioned a boy who had five small barley loaves and two small fish. But he doubted how far they would go among so many. And imagine being the boy with just five loaves and two fish in a crowd of thousands! When Jesus asked for his offering, he might have felt unprepared and worried that his small contribution wouldn’t be enough. But he trusted Jesus and handed over what he had. And what happened? Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and fed everyone there. They filled twelve baskets with the food left over! Jesus performed a miracle, not only feeding everyone there but showed that even the smallest offerings can be transformed by His grace. Many times in our lives, we feel unprepared or that we don’t have enough to offer. Whether it’s in our parish, our families, or other areas of our lives, we might think we lack the time, energy, gifts, or talents to make a difference. But just like the boy in the Gospel and Jim’s act of love, when we place what little we have into the hands of Jesus, He can work miracles through us. Our small acts of service and generosity, when blessed by God, can become something far greater than we could ever imagine. This brings us to the Eucharist. The bread that becomes the Body of Christ is small when we hold it in the palms of our hands, yet when we consume it, it empowers us to do huge things in the name of Jesus. Every time we receive the Eucharist, we are reminded of how something small can have a tremendous impact. The Eucharist nourishes us spiritually, giving us the strength and grace to go out into the world and make a difference. Let’s remember the lesson from today’s Gospel. Let’s not be afraid to offer what we have, no matter how small it may seem. Think of one small way you can serve or give, and trust that Jesus will do great things with your offering. It might be a kind word to a neighbor, a helping hand to a friend, or a small donation to a cause you care about. Whatever it is, remember that when we place our time, talents, and resources into the hands of Jesus, no matter how small we think they are, He can multiply them and use them to bless others.



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