Sunday August 2nd: Putting the needs of others first

“When Jesus heard of it, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place to be by himself.”

Matthew 14: 13-21

Jesus is given the news of John’s gruesome death at the hands of Herod, and in his humanity, he goes off to a quiet place to be by himself. We read in other places in scripture that when Jesus goes off by himself it is to pray to the Father and be strengthened. On his return from prayer and solitude, he finds a vast crowd with great expectations awaiting him. In his pity for them, he forgets his own need for consolation and ministers to them, curing their illness and miraculously feeding them.

How do we respond to similar devastating news? It may be news of the tragic death of a loved one, diagnosis of an illness, or other news that seem to cripple us. We may turn inward and lament forgetting everything and everyone else including God.

But Jesus shows me how to immediately respond. Rely on God’s strength to carry me through the difficulty. In spite of the pain, the strength that God gives will allow me, with some struggle, to put aside my own needs and minister to the needs of others. Praise God!