Priorities
One
In today’s Gospel we read, “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).
Two
Our Lord’s heart is moved with compassion for His people especially when we respond with trust, although sometimes He responds even without it. When my children were small, I remember being very frustrated with God. I doubted that He actually cared about me. We had a couple of major appliances break simultaneously and didn’t have the means for replacements. I remember going into the chapel that next morning and for the next hour, I chewed out God up one-side and down the other. I reminded Him of His promises to provide, I listed all of my years of service to Him and told Him He let me down. Upon leaving the chapel, I stopped at my mail drawer to pick up my mail while heading to my office. I sat down at my desk and noticed a card in the mail without any address and inside was $300, almost half of what I needed to buy new appliances. “Thanks,” I said to him, moderately appreciative, “but I’m still $400 short!” Oh Lord, thank you for your patience!
Three
As I pulled out my computer key board, I noticed another card, different from the one I brought up from the mail room. Inside of it…$450! Another anonymous donor placed it there. Who these donors were and how they knew what I needed I don’t know to this day, accept I know who does know and who inspired it! I failed in my trust and my priorities. I yelled at God! For an hour! He loves me anyway and provided for me, despite my brazen disrespect. The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD (Proverbs 16:33). If He did this for me and my little faith, how much more will He do for you?
Four
What a contrast between the response of the crowds who didn’t worry about their poverty when it came to loving Jesus, and Judas, who in John’s Gospel complained when Mary Magdalen broke an expensive jar of priceless ointment to anoint Jesus’ feet. “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor” (Jn 12:5). He was a thief, not just because he was stealing money from the money bag, but also because he stole glory from God and gave it to men (especially himself!) One may protest, ‘wasn’t he right in that we are supposed to care about the poor?’ Yes, but with proper priority, love and obey God first, then all else besides. God always comes first, even when it comes to caring for the poor! Even when it comes to compassion for the suffering! By subverting this right ordering, Judas reveals the depths of his treachery. Compassion for the poor and needy is certainly very important, but should never subordinate love, worship, and the obedience due to God and His truths, nor be pitted against it.
Five
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. They didn’t know the plan, but God did! Not only did He feed them but fed them in abundance. Today, 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.