I looked with envy at my neighbor’s well-tended grass even at the height of summer. How come hers was always thick, green, and healthy, while mine was patchy and turning brown despite constant watering? Maybe her grass was the more expensive kind, unlike my cheaper carabao grass. So one day, I dared to go for a closer look. No wonder her grass was greener. It was fake!

How many times have we coveted someone else’s life because of the sumptious meals, vacations abroad, and expensive experiences we see on their social media? We complain to the Lord about all the problems we have and all the things we don’t. We long to have the light burdens of others instead of the cross we bear. We don’t realize that what we see is fake. No, not the life of the other people, but our illusion that the grass is greener on their side.

Because the truth is, the grass on our side is the only one we can tend, fertilize, and water. It’s greener on our side because the Lord is our Shepherd who promises we shall never want. Rissa Singson Kawpeng (rissakawpeng@gmail.com)

reflect:

Envy kills the blessing.

You complete me, Jesus. I have all that I need when I have You.

St. John Damascene, priest and Doctor of the Church, pray for us.

Shame is a debilitating thing to experience. It can also be a great motivator to right the wrongs we have done. The difference depends on whether we are the ones responsible for the shame or not. Shame that is inflicted on us is bad. But if we are responsible for an evil, then let us be ashamed enough to correct what we have done wrong.

⁶ On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. ⁷ On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; ⁸ he will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken. ⁹ On that day it will be said: “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the Lord for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!” ¹⁰ For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6

R: I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; 3 he refreshes my soul. (R) He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. ⁴ Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. (R) ⁵ You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R) ⁶ Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. (R)

Gospel | Matthew 15:29-37

Why do you follow Jesus? What do you think attracts people to Him? There are probably many answers to these questions. However, it is a good thing to examine our motives and purify them when needed. Let us respond to Jesus out of love for Him, and not just because we will get what we want.

Gospel Acclamation

Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him.

²⁹ At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. ³⁰ Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. ³¹ The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. ³² Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” ³³ The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” ³⁴ Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” ³⁵ He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. ³⁷ They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets full.

Read the Bible in one year! Read EPHESIANS 1 - 3 today.

When I was still a seminarian, one of my assigned tasks was to work with a community in Northern Philippines for their relocation because they lived in danger zones—on the banks of the Cagayan River. I remember that, on each trip, I always carried more bags on my return than on my way there. At times, I felt they literally took whatever they had and gave it all to me.

Often, like the disciples, we find ourselves overwhelmed by perceived problems. They told Jesus: “Where can we get enough bread in this deserted place to feed such a crowd?” “Seven loaves and a few fish . . . That is all we have!” What a blessing it was to actually have food available but the gift was immediately diminished because seven loaves and the few fish were deemed a meager supply amounting to nothing much. This tendency to equal “meager” with “nothing” is a mindset Jesus changed in His disciples.

Isn’t this a common attitude among us Filipinos as well? In the parish setting, when there are fundraisers, I hear some parishioners say, “We don’t need to give. The wealthier among us can raise the funds themselves. It will not hurt them to donate a large sum.” The focus is erroneously on what one does not have or will find too difficult to acquire than on what one does have. This is what we call “poverty mentality.” This attitude presumes one has nothing worthwhile to give or share because what they have does not compare to those who have more. However, our status in life does not determine how much we can contribute. It should not limit our capacity to do good for others.

We must never belittle our ability to give. In our own little ways, we can contribute to society, help the needy, and alleviate someone’s suffering. Fr. Rick Montañez, AA

Reflection Question:

Are you generous enough to share your time, talent, and treasure with others in need?

Lord, I ask for a generous heart to wholeheartedly give of myself to those in need Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________