Gospel Reading: John 6:1-15

Topic: Dealing with Anxiety and Adulting

5 When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip,
“Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”
6 He said this to test him because he knew what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for
each of them to have a little.”
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for
so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the
men reclined, about five thousand in number.

Lectio Divina: Sharing of Word/s and how it relates to your life.

Sharing: Story of Manong Cellphone
A widowed man was looking for a job as a messenger in one company to make ends meet. He
has three children to feed and send to school. While he was being interviewed, the HR personnel
was looking at his biodata and ask him, “Sir, what is your phone number?”. The man looked
confused and ask, “phone number po?” (he has no phone). “Yes po, so that we can contact you”,
relied on the interviewer”. “Ma’am, wala po ako phone,” said the man, “mahirap lang po kami”.
The interviewer frustratingly said, “wala po kayong kakilalang meron para matawagan naming
kayo?” “Yung kapitbahay po naming may cellphone pero di ko alam number niya” said the man
sadly. “Sorry po, balik nalang kayo pag may contact number na kayo” said the HR personnel.
The man went out of the office frustrated.
While he was walking home, he looked at his pocket and he saw he has 50 pesos. Unable to
accept defeat, he went to the market and bought 50 pesos worth of tomatoes. When he reached
home, he repacked the tomatoes and sold them to his neighbor. He was able to earn 200 pesos
that day. He spent the 100 to buy food and the other half he bought 50 pesos worth of eggplants
and tomatoes. The next day he earned 400. Then the next day earned 600, then 1000 until he
builds his small store. A year later he is already delivering vegetables and the year after he was
already a vegetable dealer.
Same as in the gospel, Philip and the other disciples were worried about where to get food to
feed the 5000 men (excluding women and children). They were anxious and worried. Then
Andrew said, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are
these for so many?” Parang sinabi niya, “eto lang eh, anong kwenta nito?” They forgot who they
are with. Parang nakalimutan nila yung Matthew 6:25 na sinabi ni Jesus. Tapos pinakita ni Hesus
paano ideal ang mga ganyan na pangyayari sa buhay natin. He asked them to seat (Read Psalm
55:23), relax lang sabi ni Lord your worrying will do nothing and will not solve the problem
(Read Luke 12:25-26). Ano ang solution? Then Jesus took the loaves, GAVE THANKS. May
problema na magpapasalamat ka pa? Bakit? (Read Psalm 94:19 and Philippians 4:6). Because
God will give you consolation. Kaya anong dapat gawin pag may problem and anxiety? Jesus
will answer (Read Matthew 11:28-30). PRAY (Read Psalm 34:17 and 1 Peter 5:7). TRUST
GOD (Read 1 Corinthians 10:13). Why trust God? (Read Proverbs 3:5-6 and Jeremiah 29: 11-
13). Because definitely, God knows what he is doing (Jn 6:6).
Also, importantly, trust yourself (Read 2 Timothy 1:7). Because God gave us the power. Jesus
did not wallow on the problem but he was thinking and doing already the solution. God gave you
all the talents, skills, and strength to solve the problem. May kasabihan tayo, “nasa Diyos and
awa at nasa tao ang gawa” (James 2: 26). Always remember God is with you (Read Philippians
4:13-14).
Look at the man without a cellphone number, he never accepted defeat. He used his skills and
overcome poverty. Minsan sa buhay kailangan lang nating tumigil panandali, think and reflect.
Focus on the solution and not on the problem. Si kuya, tumigil ba siya dahil wala siyang
cellphone? Tinambayan ba niya yung problema? Nanlumo ba siya at tinanggap ang pagkatalo?
Hindi. Umisip ng solusyon at hindi nagover think. Hindi nag what if. Nagtiwala siya sa Diyos at
sa sarili niya. That is why he became successful. Normal ang depression, anxiety at problema sa
buhay. Mga blessing in disguise sila alam mo lang silang tignan at gamitin. Adulting,
responsibility, being broke, broken-heartedness, and alike maeencounter natin sila pero if may
tiwala ka sa Diyos at sa sarili mo then you will triumph.
Lastly, pinakita din ni Hesus sa gospel na you need other people. Alam mo lang kung sino ang
dapat mong pagkatiwalaan at takbuhan. Ipadadala agad ni Lord ang kailangan mo basta gumalaw
ka (Read Mt 7: 7-8).
Closing Prayer