Monday: 18^th Week in Ordinary Time-A

I Reading: Jeremiah 28:1-17: Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you; and thanks to you this people are now relying on what is false.

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21: Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. He handed the loaves to his disciples who gave them to the crowds.

The Messiah’s Power to Feed Five Thousand: The Essentials for Ministry

What Jesus said is profound: “Bring them (your human resources) here to me” (v.18). what would happen if people would bring their human resources to Christ? The resources would become wonderfully multiplied, and the world’s needs would be met.

1. Essential 1: Seeing people and having compassion (v.15)

a. Christ’s example, v. 14

          1) Seeing the crowds

          2) Feeling compassion

b. The disciples concern: only human concern

2. Essential 2: Accepting one’s duty to minister (v.16-17)

a. Christ’s charge: Give

b. The disciples’ humanism: resources are inadequate

3. Essential 3: Trusting Christ to use one’s resources (v.18-21)

a. The disciples’ duty: To bring the resources to Christ

b. Jesus’ example

          1) Taking resources

          2) Thanking God

          3) Using resources

c. The disciples part

1) To share

2) To save and be thrifty

3) To observe and witness Christ’s power, His Messiahship

Thought: The command of Christ is to everyone: “Give.”

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Tuesday: 18^th Week in Ordinary Time-A

I Reading: Jeremiah 30:1-2.12-15.18-22: So many are you sin, that I have done this to you. I will restore the tents of Jacob.

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36: Tell me to come to you across the water.

The Messiah’s Power to Calm a Storm: The Power of His Presence

The Lord’s presence makes all the difference in the world.

1. Christ presence is assured by personal preparation (v.22-23)

a. He sent the disciples away

b. He dismissed the crowd

c. He got alone to pray

          1) On a mountain

          2) In the evening

          3) All alone

          4) In a storm

2. Christ’s presence conquers fear ( v.24-27)

a. A storm arose

b. Jesus went to them: He walked on the see

c. The disciples feared, thinking they saw a ghost

d. Jesus gave assurance-His presence

3. Christ’s presence stirs the hope of being saved (v.28-31)

a. Peter’s hope was stirred: He could be saved by Christ presence

b. Jesus’ command: come

c. Peter’s faith faltered

1) Glanced at storm

          2) Begin to sink

          3) Cried: Lord, save

d. Jesus saved, but rebuked faltering faith

4. Christ’s presence conquers nature (v.32)

5. Christ’s presence stirs confession and worship (v.33)

Thought: The Lord’s presence is the answer to the storms of life-to all distressed spirits (1Pet 1:5; 2Tim 5:18).

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