Do you ever have those “five-loaves-and-two-fish” days? Days when your resources just aren’t enough? When you feel the weight of lack? When everything you’re doing seems to be falling short?

In those moments, it’s not just that you feel you don’t have enough—it’s that you begin to believe you aren’t enough.

So, what do you do during these five-loaves-and-two-fish moments? Change your perception. Change how you see yourself. Change how you see God.

The miracle of multiplying the fish and bread wasn’t just about feeding people—it was about seeing. It was more about the eyes than the stomach. You need to see how adding God to your lack changes everything.

Because in God’s economy, 5 + 2 doesn’t equal 7.

Jesus called ordinary, uneducated, and powerless fishermen to catch people for His kingdom. He used their measly “five loaves and two fish”—their limited gifts and influence—to change the world. With God’s equation, things don’t just add up; they multiply. Live in God’s economy. 

Arun Gogna (gognuts@yahoo.com)

reflect

In God’s economy, you have more than what you begin with.

Lord, I trust that You want more for me. Amen.

St. Peter Thomas, pray for us.

First Reading | Isaiah 8:23–9:3

Light is essential for sight because we cannot see without it. Similarly, truth is essential for knowledge. The Scriptures provide us with the ultimate source of truth for knowledge about salvation. Let us familiarize ourselves with God’s Word every day. Time spent with the Scriptures is never a waste of time.

²³ First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land west of the Jordan, the district of the Gentiles. Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness: for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. ^9:1 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. ² You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils. ³ For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

R: The Lord is my light and my salvation.

¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) ⁴ One thing I ask of the Lord, this I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate his temple. (R) ¹³ I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. (R)

Second Reading | 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17

Let us not compare our faith walk with that of others'. God calls each of us to play a part in His plan. He created each of us as a unique being and no one else can take our place. It is up to us to embrace our call and be faithful to it. The way we live our lives will be different, and this is a good thing.

¹⁰ I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. ¹¹ For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you. ¹² I mean that each of you is saying, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” ¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

Gospel | Matthew 4:12-23 (or Matthew 4:12-17)

Jesus calls simple fishermen to be His first disciples. He will also call a tax collector and many other ‘unlikely’ members of society. Why didn’t Jesus choose the rich and powerful? This is the point Jesus wants to make: It is not worldly status that matters but the willingness to hear and follow God’s will. It may be easier for people who live simply to do this.

Gospel Acclamation

Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people.

¹² When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³ He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴ that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: ¹⁵ Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, ¹⁶ the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen. ¹⁷ From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ¹⁸ As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. ¹⁹ He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, ²² and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. ²³ He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.

Reflect

When did the Lord first invite you to have a personal relationship with Him? What was your reply? How have you been living out His calling for you?

Read the Bible in one year! Read ACTS 9 - 12 today.

Guided by the Light

Waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, what do you reach for first—the light switch or your steps? Our body’s need for light is important because it brings clarity and safety to every step we take.

The passage from Isaiah, quoted by Saint Matthew, tells us, “This people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” This light is Jesus, who fulfilled God’s promise to the people living in the regions near Capernaum—Zebulun and Naphtali, areas once considered far from God’s temple and light. Many there were Gentiles or people unfamiliar with God’s ways, so their land was seen as dark and distant from the sacred fire that burned in the temple.

Jesus’ presence brought hope, healing, and forgiveness to those who followed Him. Yet, to truly experience this light, they had to turn away from sin and accept what He offered.

We, too, received this light when we were baptized. The priest lights a candle, symbolizing the light of Christ given to us. We are called to carry this light for ourselves and then share it with others. This light is faith, the truth of the Good News, the sacraments we celebrate, and our Christian life as a witness.

Sadly, we sometimes neglect God’s Word. It may become background noise during Mass or mere decoration on altars. But God’s Word is the light guiding our lives. We must listen to it carefully. It’s also important not to judge the messenger of this light. Sometimes we prefer certain priests or preachers because their message is easier to understand. But the light does not come from them—it comes from God, and they are simply messengers.

If we stumble, it may be because we choose comfort over clarity. We need God’s light to guide our decisions and plans. Let this light of Christ fill your heart and lead your way.

Fr. Franz Dizon

reflection question

As you walk through life’s challenges, how do you let God’s Word and His light shape your decisions and give you peace?

Lord, I have accepted Your light so I may also shine it for others. Help me to stand firm in this truth. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________________________