Padre David Herrera - 2 de agosto (en español)

St. Philip Catholic Church: During my seminary they gave us pastoral or places where we had to go and do a service. This included giving classes in, like, Enrica or giving classes on Catechism. Or also go and manage those who were in jail, help them, a type, a group of prayer. But there was also going with the people who didn't have a those people who were in the streets. During that time, spent my first year doing that type of with the people who were in the streets, going and talking to them. My last year in the seminary, I had the same but it more in a place where they were given food and where we could talk. During that time, I for first time and I said, no, I'll help you distribute the food because it's easier me to it. And I said, no, that's we have the volunteers, the seminarians, we want you to something else, to talk to people. I perfect, okay. And then I found a woman who was there and she started telling me about her problems and she said something to said, hey, can you for me? And I of I can for you. And I thought, no, well, now that the seminary now that I at the temple that we have in the seminary, during my time that I to pray, I'm going to put it in my prayers. But he says, you can pray for me at this moment. And I know pray, I know pray, but I'm not so good at spontaneous That was not something that scared me, that was ... I my area. I didn't feel comfortable doing that, basically. I Sir, okay, what are you asking of me? Let's do it. And I did I don't remember what I I just remember I sweating, that I was a little nervous. And I Okay, Sir, I already learned the lesson. Five or ten minutes later, another person comes and the same. And I Okay. And this continues to it continues to it continues to happen. In a way, comfort or my zone where I felt comfortable, the was starting to take out of that zone, out of that box that I had made And it is the same thing that we seeing today in the first reading with the prophet Isaiah. Because remember, Israel at this moment is in an exile from Babylon, a Babylonian They are far from their land. But the same way, they are far from God. They are already very comfortable in those lands, in the customs of those lands, they have moved from God. Because we are talking about the children of those people who are originally from Israel. They are one or two generations. So Isaiah calls them to leave their comfort to not be comfortable in those customs. that are keeping them out of God, to amend their ways. And it is just like the Christian The Christian life is not a life of comfort, but a life of discomfort. Christ calls us to do things that we have never done before. And is that a true encounter with Christ, drives us to act, we can't sit down. If we have a meeting with Christ, Christ calls us to action, to show others the experience we had with Christ. simply to leave the people who need us. And that exactly what Jesus is teaching His disciples in the Gospel. We heard that many people were following Jesus. Not because they hungry or because Jesus was healing the sick, which was part of it, but because was deeper And is that we all have desires, we have desire for a good life, for peace, for happiness, prosperity, good family, a good job, good health. But nevertheless, is a deeper desire that belongs to God. Unfortunately, society has taught us that the world can satisfy that desire, that the world can take that place of God, and they give us hopes, false peace, false happiness. However, only God is the only who can satisfy that desire. If they are seeking true happiness, if they are seeking true peace, They God. And is that in the Gospel all these people have that inner of God without knowing it. And being with Jesus they feel satisfied because Jesus is filling that inner desire that belongs to And then what happens? It's late and they food. This crowd needs food. And what happens? The disciples feel uncomfortable. They didn't want to with this problem. They wanted get it. They wanted to do like, well, it's our problem anymore. Go to your homes. You know how they it. I McDonald's at that time. So they going to there. But it was like, you go and look for something to But Jesus teaches His disciples that it simply to move people when they in He the disciples, them. Jesus invites them to see that crowd not as a problem, but as people trusted to His care. And what happened? The disciples found only five loaves and two fish. For them seemed completely insufficient and it was like, we told you Lord, there is food. But for Jesus, those five loaves, those two fish were enough. Look, Jesus only needed a small offering from them and He would it. Dear brothers and sisters, that is is important that we do small acts of faith. That's it's important to pray, that's it's important to come to worship, that's why it's important to pray the rosary, to pray for people, even if they like us. That's why it's important to pray for them. That's why it's important to remain faithful to your husband, to your wife. That's why it's important for me to faithful to my promises as a priest. love others. is important to them and see them as our neighbor. Because these little things, little acts of faith, are our five loaves and two fish that we can offer to Jesus Christ. And the very least, for the very least, my one minute, two minutes of prayer that I do, What do Well, it's very little, Lord. For Jesus it's enough. He takes those small offerings, He takes that rosary, that holy that little prayer, and then multiplies in blessings for others. So Jesus is calling us to leave our comfort to leave our comforts, to seek beyond, to offer a prayer to the next. This week, Father Geno said, if you a little, he gave in a way something to do, which was to why don't you go and ask someone why I pray today, or if I pray for you, for that person. Ask him what your intention is and pray for that person. And that thing, that prayer, could be our five loaves and two fish that we can offer to the Lord. And maybe you could say, I want and say I to pray for this unknown it's too much, I think I Okay, let's one step back. Ask your husband, your wife. to your children, your friends, to the person you know. Ask them, hey, I want to for you. Why can I pray for you this week? Let's start at home, let's start there, and little by little, then will rid of fear and we will be to ask the people we know in the Walmart or wherever we if we can pray for that person. Because that is is about, to always in action, to show our faith, to show Jesus Christ. It's something easy, something simple. Let's start with that prayer. And it's that Jesus is asking us for that little offering and He is going to of what comes next. He will multiply it, He will blessings on other people. Those little acts of faith. are a Brothers sisters, question is, are we willing to give Jesus my five loaves and my two fish?