St. Matthew Catholic Church

Weekly Message     

       Sustenance Vs Surplus

Dear brothers and sisters,   

    Our life is filled with God’s providential love. Does He share His blessing or gives away the surplus or is He in shortage? God never runs out of anything, because He keeps giving. [2 Cor.9:8]

     Elisha tells his servant to feed a hundred people with just twenty loaves. Despite doubts, there is surplus food, showing that God provides even when we don’t see how it will work. A boy’s five loaves and two fish was insufficient for five thousand men plus their wives and children - 15,000+ people in our/disciples’ reasoning! Did the servant and the boy give their surplus or sustenance? They shared whatever they had and they received surplus bread and fish.

     Did Jesus miscalculate how much food was needed for the crowd? No. He knew exactly how much is needed. It was intentional. Sustenance + Blessing = Surplus. He gave more than enough, surplus of 12 baskets. He asked them to gather and not to waste. His surplus giving has a purpose - stewardship - to share.

     People love to give generously in economically prosperous times; but the economic markets should not impact our heart - living generously and sacrificially. Being generous with what God has given us is an issue of the heart. Jesus commented on a poor widow’s mite, “this woman gave from her sustenance; others gave from their surplus”. Our “surplus or sustenance” is to share to build God’s kingdom and to care His people.

     I have known a few people whose ambition is to accumulate, and want their final judgement of themselves based on what they have! We want people to read in our obituary, not a balance sheet of our wealth, but a story of our service to humanity and God. God gives His bless- ings for sustenance or safety or surplus - your choice! God loves the cheerful giver!

BE blest and BE a blessing!

Msgr. Xavier                       

                                       Please pray for vocations to the priesthood &
                                               for the Priests of our Diocese 
Healing Retreat [Spanish] Jesus Sanando Heridas 2.mp4

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