On July 28, during his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel from Saint John, which recounts the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
He invited the faithful to recognize and give thanks for the daily graces that God bestows upon us, according to Vatican News.
Pope Francis highlighted three key movements present in both the miracle and the Eucharistic Celebration: offering, giving thanks, and sharing.
On the gesture of “offering,” the Holy Father emphasized that every person has something valuable to contribute, even if it seems insufficient. He reminded us that just as the five loaves and two fish were offered despite being meager, our small offerings can be transformed by God. During the Holy Mass, the bread and wine presented on the altar become the material for the greatest miracle—Christ’s presence among us for the salvation of the world.
Regarding “giving thanks,” Pope Francis urged the faithful to take joy in God’s blessings. He encouraged a humble acknowledgment that all we have is a gift from God. “We are to say to the Lord humbly and with joy that 'All I have is Your gift, and to thank You I can only give back to you what You gave me first, together with your Son Jesus, adding what I can: 'my feeble love.'"
This act of gratitude marks the moment of 'the blessing,' where we praise God for His goodness, as He sanctifies and multiplies our fragile efforts.
On the third gesture of “sharing,” Pope Francis recalled that during Mass, the Body and Blood of Christ, received by the congregation, are the fruits of everyone’s gifts transformed by the Lord into nourishment for all. He described this as a beautiful moment that teaches us to live each act of love as a gift of grace, fostering growth and unity among us as brothers and sisters.
Pope Francis then posed reflective questions to the faithful: "Do I truly believe that, by the grace of God, I have something unique to give to my brothers and sisters, or do I feel anonymously 'one among many'?" "Am I grateful to the Lord for the gifts with which He continuously manifests His love?" "Do I live sharing with others as a moment of encounter and mutual enrichment?"
The Holy Father concluded by invoking the Blessed Mother’s help to live every Eucharistic celebration with faith and to recognize and savor the daily “miracles” of God’s grace.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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