An apple, a loaf of bread, a few fish…. what do these have in common? Depending on your perceptions in life, they share either lack or abundance.

Don’t be fooled by your apple as lacking when there are others who don’t have an apple. A few fish and a loaf of bread were apparently abundant when Jesus preached for three days to his apostles and fellow travelers.

Jesus knew His people were hungry. More importantly, those who sat with Him gave all they had, guessing it would probably be used to feed others, knowing they had a long trip ahead. They didn’t know an abundance of food was coming to feed the crowd, they just knew others needed to eat, and they trusted.

Today our grocery bills are substantial, and you’ll always find the holiday season ringing bells for those in need. Those who help “fill the bucket” look at life abundantly, though they cringe at their own bills. Those who do not fill the bucket may view life as lacking, or worse…they judge.

Go to God within yourself. Trust and share no matter how little you have. For those who find God in giving and service to others, live life with gratitude and abundance and receive accordingly. Going through life, perceiving yourself as a victim will only work against God. Saint Peter Julian Eymard said: “The Eucharist is everything because, from the Eucharist, everything is.”

Let Us Pray:

Lord, help us to live life with gratitude, to find the Eucharist in everything we do, to live abundantly surrounded by God’s love and divine mercy, and to imitate his love for all people.