18th Week in Ordinary Time: Monday 5th August 2019

Many spiritual traditions teach us that craving gets us in trouble. When we crave something, it overrides our prudence, inner peace, and patience. The Israelites had been complaining ever since they left Egypt. God provided manna for them to eat, but then they whined that they were tired of the menu! They began to dream of different types of food, and they longed for Egypt again.

Gone was their faith and hope, as well as their commitment to obey the law of the Lord. As expected, their craving brought disaster on them. We must be grateful for what we have and not crave for what we do not have.

The disciples could only see what they did not have. They did not know how they were to feed so many with just five loaves and two fish. Jesus merely accepted what they had and blessed the loaves and fish – and gratitude was part of the blessing. They had more than enough for everyone with some left over.

Our cultures have forgotten how to be grateful, and we focus far too much on what we don’t have or what we think we need. Gratitude is the first step towards happiness and eventually abundance.

Lord, may I have a grateful heart.