The Truly Good Provider

He Always Receives and Welcomes All

The Gospel reading today is telling us that the Lord Jesus Christ took His apostles and went with them aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. (Luke 9:10-12)

The Lord Jesus received the multitudes and welcomed them although He had decided to be alone with His disciples, as the reading told us. The Lord Jesus always receives and welcomes, not only the multitude on that day, but also every one of us and at every time and in every condition, especially when we are in need of His help.

No one can consider or help us as The Lord Jesus does. Some people condemn and reject the weak brethren but The Lord does not reject anyone as it is written, "...and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." (John 6:37).

Love Leads Us to Receive and Welcome Others

The sinner, the weak, and the afflicted often feel that they are refused from everyone; they are in need of acceptance and to be loved by others. The Lord Jesus, the Lover of Mankind, always welcomes the weary and invites them as He said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). We have to be like Our Lord Jesus in receiving and welcoming others, especially our own and our household.

We Must Express Our Love toward our Brethren in a Practical Way

Our Lord Jesus received the multitude and He spoke to them about the kingdom of Heaven and then healed those who had need of healing; He then fed them. The mere reception of others is not enough for the needy, and it does not express true Love. It must be followed by doing the deeds of love, as St. James said, "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?" (James 2:15-16).

He is The Truly Good Provider

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Truly Good Provider. He receives us and reveals to us the way to the Kingdom of heavens. He never looks over our tribulations and afflictions, but heals us. Lastly, He is compassionate towards us and gives us our daily needs. He is stretching His hands everyday as we can see on the Cross. He is always waiting to receive and to deliver us, hoping that we draw near to Him. Do we accept?!

The Kingdom of Heavens has the Most Priority

 Our Lord treated the multitudes in a specific order: He received them, spoke to them, healed their sicknesses, and then provided them with daily needs of the body. He intended to teach us to seek the

Heavenly and the spiritual things first, as He said: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

Lastly, let us follow our Lord’s example in receiving others and provide for the needs of the less fortunate.