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A Lesson in Eggs

31/7/2026

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, August 2nd, 2026:
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew
14:13-21

When Jesus heard that Herod had beheaded John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, Jesus saw a great crowd;and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.

When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but two loaves and five fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.”

Then Jesus ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

I've had seasons in life where I'm surprisingly good at making excuses. In fact, just this week my husband pointed this out when I was explaining why I couldn't share something that had been gifted to me. “So far you’ve listed three excuses why that wouldn’t work,” he observed, “Instead of how it might!” Ouch. Yes I have.

That this Gospel lined up with my turn to write a reflection is another example of God’s perfect timing. Additionally, I've learned that this is the only miraculous story in all four gospels, so it must be very important to God that we engage with it and reflect on how it relates to us.

It's a story of seeing a need, feeling compassion, trusting, obeying, and collaborating with God. The disciples, however, are reluctant to involve themselves in feeding the large crowd who have followed Jesus to this deserted place and offer Jesus a ‘solution’ that’s really dressed up as an excuse: “Send the crowds away so they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” I can imagine Jesus holding their gaze when he replies, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” This prompts another excuse that there are only five loaves and two fish, but they listen and give it to Jesus who then blesses it through the Father and the miraculous multiplying the offering in the basket to feed the crowd of 5,000 occurs - with plenty left over!

It’s hard not to hear this story without considering the times I've made excuses before God. One recent encounter involved walking by a woman sitting on the curb outside the ferry terminal. I stopped and gave her some change and had a short chat. What she really wanted, though, was a carton of eggs from the farmers’ market taking place that day. I quickly gave her a couple of vague excuses: I needed money for the ferry and the next one was leaving very soon. As I walked away, however, I knew that I did have enough money scattered in my bag if I looked and I also had plenty of time to make the ferry. Our God is a God of second chances, and sometimes puts things in our path to make it really obvious that we are to act. On that day the market was outside and about 15 steps away was a table full of fresh eggs. There was not even anyone in line. So I did listen, bought the eggs, brought them back and sheepishly laid them down beside her. “Thank you,” she said, looking up. “Now I can make an omelette.”

Later on the ferry I thought about how easy God made it to meet my sister’s needs, and how I reacted. I had the means, the time, and the very thing she really wanted a stone’s throw away. I just had to obey and act.

And later, listening to a podcast I was reminded again with a beautiful phrase that landed deeply:

“Obedience creates the environment where God’s provision flows.”

Patty Viscount

1 Comment

More Than Conquerors

30/7/2026

2 Comments

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, August 2nd, 2026:
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Romans
8.35, 37-39

Brothers and sisters: Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Nobody likes to lose. Given our druthers, we’d all prefer to win, but most of us aren’t driven to win at absolutely everything. We can be choosy. For example, I don’t particularly care about beating anyone at bucket golf, but challenge me for the high score in sudoku and I'm gonna snap your pencils. Why? Because being skilled in logic games is important to me.

In the Second Reading for this Sunday, Saint Paul is on about something that is important to Christians: freedom from evil. None of us wants to be overcome by fear, crippled by addictions, brought down by anxiety. We want to be alive and free from evil. So, on those days when the world begins to grind us down, we need someone like Coach Paul the Apostle to build us up:

“Alright, Christians, we got this! We’re gonna go out there today, fully clothed in the armour of Christ’s love. I said it to the Ephesians and I’ll say it to you: when evil comes bearing down on you, stand firm. With the belt of truth around your waist, the breastplate of righteousness guarding your heart, your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, and the shield of faith in your hand, you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Be alert and never stop praying.

“Now, let me hear you! Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” “No one!”
“Will hardship separate us from the love of Christ?” “No!”
“Will persecution separate us from the love of Christ?” “No!”
“How about peril — will peril separate us from the love of Christ?” “No!”
“And why won’t peril separate us from the love of Christ?” “Because we are more than conquerors!”

This must be our rallying cry against darkness of every kind every day: we are more than conquerors through him who loved us, for the God who loves us is always with us. We are never alone. Even when we feel alone and the light becomes night around us, the darkness will not be dark to God; the night will shine as the day (Psalm 139:11-12). Therefore, “neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation [including our times of deepest darkness] will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God’s presence in our lives is never about us and what we do, whether it be good or bad. God’s presence in our lives is about God’s promise to never let us be separated from the love that strengthens us, a love that makes us more than conquerors.

Donna Davis

2 Comments

Satisfied in His Provision

29/7/2026

6 Comments

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, August 2nd, 2026:
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 145

R. You open your hand to feed us, Lord, and satisfy our needs.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.

R. You open your hand to feed us, Lord, and satisfy our needs.

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.

R. You open your hand to feed us, Lord, and satisfy our needs.

The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

R. You open your hand to feed us, Lord, and satisfy our needs.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

We live in a world that struggles to be satisfied. Even in the global west, where we are surrounded by plenty, we are always striving for more, more, more. A nicer phone. A bigger house. A fancier car. Everything we want to match our instagram-worthy aspirations. We are a people who are constantly confusing our wants with our needs.

What I actually need is water, food, clothing, shelter, and connection. But I find myself willingly ignoring those needs and instead substituting them with something flashier, or easier, or more immediate. I find myself dissatisfied when my cup isn’t overflowing beyond measure.

Sure, my 4 bedroom townhouse provides a roof over our heads and security, but I still trawl the real estate website looking for a much larger place that is also, magically, within my price range. We’re all well clothed and comfortable in our clothes from the second hand store, but we still crave the brand recognition of fashion. My iPhone was up for renewal, so even though it works perfectly fine, I consider upgrading to a more expensive model that does the exact same things. The appearance of upward mobility is the name of the game.

The screaming noise of all these wants dilutes my ability to rest in gratitude for all of my needs being fulfilled. When we’re truly struggling, it’s so much easier to be clear eyed about God’s incredible provision. And in many ways, there’s no way to shut off the culture’s constant pressure to do more, be more, and get more. Short of moving to the woods and completely warding ourselves off from the world, that constant hum of want, want, want will always be within me.

But that doesn’t have to be my story. I can start by repeating to myself what I’ve told my kids since they were young enough to express a want - “There’s a difference between a need and a want.” By separating out those needs and wants, I can reflect and give praise to my good, good Father for all the ways He has fulfilled my every need. I can cultivate a heart that is satisfied by seeing God’s provision.

When the world tries to tell me that I’m not enough because I don’t have enough, I can pray for the Holy Spirit to convict me of the truth - that I have everything I need in Christ and as a daughter of God. The answer to the hunger running rampant in the world and in my own heart won’t be found in a store, but is instead found at the feet of the Father.

Stéphanie Potter

6 Comments

Temporary Comforts vs Indescribable Love

28/7/2026

6 Comments

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, August 2nd, 2026:
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah
55.1-3

Thus says the Lord:
Everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.

Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Jesus sits at the head of the banquet table. His demeanor is calm and his gaze moves longingly between my eyes and the empty seat at the other end of the table. Between us is a beautiful spread of the most delicious food and drink I have ever seen. The room is calm and peaceful – time seems to stand still. He asks if I am thirsty or hungry. I nod “yes” as I take a step towards the table. I pause and look down at my empty hands; I have nothing to offer. Jesus notices my hesitation and calls me to come, to buy wine and milk without money and without price. I take another step forward and my mind races. How can I approach this table? I am too sinful, too broken. I don’t deserve this beautiful feast before me.

Suddenly something shiny catches my eye. I turn my head to see bright, flashing lights off in the distance. TVs, phones, and screens of many kinds showing social media, romance movies, advertisements for trendy clothes and shoes, and fancy cars.

The world. It beckons.

I am captivated. I tell myself I’ll just go take a look for a few minutes. I turn from the banquet table and follow the sights and sounds that seem to be pulling me in beyond my control. As I move further away from the peaceful room, I suddenly find myself in the middle of a busy intersection with cars rushing past me on all sides. I cling to the device in my hand as I look around to take in my new surroundings. A casino on one side, a bar on the other. I see a mall down the street, and a fancy restaurant on the corner. I am distracted. I wander from place to place, accepting the temporary comfort offered to me in exchange for a small piece of my soul. Inevitably, I begin to feel empty and lonely, as I always do when I try to satisfy myself with anything other than You.

Then, I hear a gentle whisper say lovingly: “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy?” I recognize the voice. Jesus, is that You? He says to me:

“Come back, my child. I have saved your seat at the table. Incline your ear and come to me - and see the life I am offering you. A life lived in dependence on Me. Where meaningful conversations fuel deeper, intimate connections. Where rich foods satisfy the emptiness you feel inside. A life where simple, ordinary things like trees, flowers, lakes and sunsets can make your heart explode with wonder. In this life you don’t have to always get it right or have all the answers. You only need Me. I will make with you an everlasting covenant – and all I want in return is your heart.”

With tears of gratitude, I return to the peaceful room, sit down at the table, and bask in the glow of indescribable Love.

Lisa Matheson

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A Lesson in Eggs

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, August 2nd, 2026:Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

More Than Conquerors

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, August 2nd, 2026:Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Satisfied in His Provision

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, August 2nd, 2026:Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Temporary Comforts vs Indescribable Love

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, August 2nd, 2026:Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

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A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, August 2nd, 2026:
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, August 2nd, 2026:
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, August 2nd, 2026:
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, August 2nd, 2026:
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time