Friday of the Second Week of Easter
Today’s gospel periscope from St. John recounts the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fishes. There is one part of the passage that deserves special attention, “‘Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.’ So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat” (Jn 6:12-13). Why should we focus on leftovers? After the disciples fretted over the fact that they had only a fragment of the amount of food needed to feed such a large crowd of people, they were astounded to realize that not only was there enough, but that there was far more food leftover than when they began to serve! God’s gifts are far more abundant than we can ask for or possibly imagine! Last Sunday we celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday. On this day, and throughout the entire season of Easter, we recount the superabundance of the Father’s love for us. In his lavish compassion, he gave us the greatest possible gift—that of eternal life through the death and resurrection of his only Son, Jesus. We are challenged to share the abundance of God’s love that we experience in our lives with everyone we meet and to give with the same extravagance we have received.
On this day Benedictines throughout the world celebrate the memory of the monk St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033/34-1109). His prayer concerning the gifts of God is fitting for our reflection today: “Rich in mercy, bountiful in gifts, who givest all to all and losest nothing, grant me heavenly and earthly aid in full sufficiency, that I may have wherewith to feed and to sustain Thy flock both in body and in soul, and to welcome without any hesitation those who come in Thy Name…All this I ask of Thee, O Lord our God; for all our blessings are gifts from Thee, nor can we else serve and please Thee save only by Thy gift” (Eighteenth Meditation).
Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections