Our tendency to be self centered

The prophet Jeremiah denounces the prophet Hananiah as one not sent by God. Hananiah raised false confidence in the people. That same year, Hananiah the prophet died. The multiplication of the loaves and fishes by Jesus in response to the needs of the people to be fed is a passage in Matthew’s Gospel which underlines the seeking of the people for spiritual nourishment as they follow Jesus to the deserted place where He had gone in response to the death of John the Baptist. The perfect meal, 5 loaves and 2 fish, of 7 components is distributed to the crowd and the uneaten food fills twelve baskets as more than enough to fill the 12 tribes of Israel. The actions which we take to advance our own power and authority are building our ego and our tendency to be self centered. The participation in life which we have been graced to share with friends and family may encounter difficulties arising from self serving motives. Our home with Christ is the place, sometimes remote, where our spiritual needs are fed and we are reaffirmed that Providence will see that we have what we need to live with all our family.