Priorities

We read in today’s Gospel, “In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him, and said to them,  "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come a long way" (Mk 8:1-3). Notice the amazing commitment the crowd had for Jesus—they seek Him out and stay with Him for three days, not worrying about provisions! Their priorities match what our Lord tells us to do, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. All else you’ll have besides” (Mt 6:33). The disciples in this region concerned themselves with one thing: Being with Jesus, to the point where they didn’t worry about what they would eat or drink. Our Lord proves to us what He does when He finds such people: He provides miraculously, especially when the supplies are scarce! “And they ate and were satisfied; and they took up the broken pieces left over that filled seven baskets” (Mk 8: 8).

The Scriptures predict that when the Anti-Christ comes, he will do two things: deny the worship of Christ (cf. 1 Jn 2:22), and deceive many, perhaps even the elect (Mt 24:24). We see this in our own day where compassion to victims is pitted against obedience to the truths of the Church. There are many today who dissent from the righteousness of God’s moral teachings while claiming to defend the oppressed, pitting the two against each other like Judas did. Be warry!

Maybe we don’t see God’s plan during our worries and problems, but neither did the crowds at the multiplication of loaves, but they sought Jesus first. Today, seek God first, thank God in advance for listening to your concerns in prayer and to continue to help you prioritize Him, even above your physical needs, despite your poverty.