One rainy evening, I was sipping a cup of coffee in a donut store. While waiting for the rain to stop, I saw four kids outside the store. Soaked in the rain, they were begging for money from people passing by. I vividly saw the people's reactions. Most of them were hesitant to help the children and even avoided them as if they were filthy. Then suddenly, an old man approached them and talked to them. He came into the store, bought a box of donuts and cups of iced tea, then gave it to the children. I saw how happy the kids were. Indeed, they were starving. After that, the old man handed them a small amount of money, and, without saying anything, walked away. The generosity and sincerity of the old man struck me. He helped not for recognition but because he had compassion and genuine concern for the children. He gave without expectation.

I saw the old man in the movements of Jesus in our Gospel today. Jesus exemplifies His great love and generosity by feeding the starving five thousand men. After miraculously feeding them, He simply walked away and went to the mountain to be alone with His Father. Jesus was supposed to be proclaimed king by those He fed. However, He did not want that kind of worldly honor and attention.

Jesus shows us the value of humility. He tells us we should not let our kindness, achievements, and even our success go to our heads. Instead, we should be grateful and bring all the glory to God, for He is the source of everything. We should also discern our actions and look at the purity of our intentions when we help. Like the old man, may we never look for the spotlight when we extend our help to others, especially when we serve God or do things for God's people.

By: Sem. Roldan B. Baliano

Today's Gospel

Jn 6:1-15

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes
and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip,
"Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
"Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little."
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people recline."
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
"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.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
"This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.