Today's Reflection: Trusting the God Who Provides All We Need

Bible Readings: (Numbers 11:4b–15) (Psalm 81) (Matthew 14:13–21)

Feast Day of St. John Vianney: A Patron Saint of Our Priests

In today’s Gospel from (Matthew 14:13–21), we witness the heart of Jesus, full of compassion. After hearing about the death of John the Baptist, He withdraws to a deserted place, surely burdened with grief. Yet when the crowds follow Him, seeking healing and hope, He does not turn them away. Instead, “His heart was moved with pity for them, and He cured their sick.” As evening falls, the disciples see a problem: the people are hungry. They suggest sending the crowds away, but Jesus says, “There is no need for them to go away. Give them some food yourselves.” With only five loaves and two fish, Jesus performs a miracle of abundance, feeding over five thousand. “They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over, twelve wicker baskets full.”

This moment shows us that in the hands of Jesus, what little we have becomes more than enough. He does not merely meet our needs, He multiplies our offerings. But this miracle also reveals a deeper truth: God provides, even in the desert.

In our own lives, especially within our families, we may feel ungrateful or even resentful when we do not receive the flashy gifts we desire on occasions like Christmas. We might overlook the daily bread of love: food on the table, shelter over our heads, and a parent’s prayers and quiet protection. These are not extravagant gifts, but they are lasting signs of care and provision. Like the Israelites in the Book of Numbers, we forget. After being delivered from slavery, they grumbled about the food and longed for the flavors of Egypt, its cucumbers, melons, leeks, and onions. “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for free” (Numbers 11:5). They forgot the chains and cruelty, and even Moses, weary from leading them, cried out to God, “I cannot carry all this people by myself, for they are too heavy for me” (Numbers 11:14).

Despite their complaints, God continued to provide for the. That is love. He sent manna from heaven and remained faithful to His promise of a land flowing with milk and honey. This pattern repeats in our lives. How often do we focus on what we lack instead of thanking God for what we have? How often do we forget the bondage we were rescued from and lose sight of the Promised Land ahead, simply because the road is hard or the bread is plain?

Response is from Psalm 81 "Sing with joy to God our help"

As Christians, we are called to take up our crosses not as burdens but as sacred callings. We are called to care for the poor, the lonely, and the forgotten, not out of obligation but out of love. God gives us the gift of compassion, the ability to see our neighbor and respond.

Today, we also honor St. John Vianney, the humble priest of Ars, whose life reminds us what it means to serve faithfully. Though he struggled with academics, he did not struggle to love. He spent countless hours in prayer and the confessional, ministering to broken souls and seeing Christ in each one. Like Jesus, his heart was moved with compassion. Let us pray for all priests today, especially those feeling burdened or overlooked. May they draw strength from Christ, their portion and reward.

Lord, help us to trust Your provision, even when we are tempted to return to what is familiar but harmful. Teach us to recognize and give thanks for Your daily bread. May we never grow weary of serving others with the compassion You showed to the five thousand. On this feast of St. John Vianney, we pray for all priests. Strengthen them in holiness, sustain them in their labor, and remind them of the eternal reward that comes from being faithful shepherds of Your people.

Amen.

Pal Ronnie

“Vanity of vanities, All things are vanity!”

Sunday Reflection

Verses: (Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21–23) (Psalm 90 ) (Colossians 3:1–11) (Luke 12:13–21)

“Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” -(Ecclesiastes 1:2)

Today's first reading was from Ecclesiastes. It can feel like a book of despair at first glance. It reminds us starkly that all our striving, our labor, anxieties, sleepless nights, and even our accumulated wealth and wisdom end in nothing if they are not anchored in what truly matters.
“What profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 2:22)

One of the sobering things I have learned in my life of work is this: nothing in this world is more important than life itself. I have seen wealthy people willing to spend whatever it takes in the healthcare setting to stay alive, and yet even that too passes. We do not have that ability, no matter our success and power. All is vanity. Vanity, in its simplest explanation, is something with no substantial value.

Everything around us fades. Everything we cherish under the sun, beauty, wealth, comfort, recognition, is fleeting. "All things are vanity."

Losing a loving parent at a young age has that effect of teaching a boy that everything can, in a blip, come to an end, including us and everything we hold dear and tight on. Today's reading is indeed challenging.

The Psalm also echoes this sobering message but adds a plea to it:
“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” (Psalm 90:12)
We are invited to live not in fear of the passing, but in awareness of what truly lasts.

In the Gospel, Jesus warns:
“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

He tells the parable of the rich man who built bigger barns to store his wealth, only to die that very night. And the haunting question follows:

“The things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?” (Luke 12:20)

Death is the great equalizer. It humbles both the rich and the poor. Jesus’ response is not to shame wealth but to call us to "be rich in what matters to God" (Luke 12:21), love, mercy, humility, and generosity.

Paul, in the second reading, exhorts us to set our minds on things above:

“If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1)

This world seduces us with endless distractions, luxury, status, power, even beauty, on the things we can see and feel. But none of these compare to the eternal richness of life in Christ. This cannot be it. There is too much suffering and injustice. I know with all the pleasures of this world, it is hard and tempting to think of anything better than this.

We must: "put to death, then, the parts of [us] that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)

Yes, the world has a lot to offer, beautiful women, fast cars, mansions, yachts, luxury travels, all we can consume options—you name it. But as Jesus showed us when tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4), the whole world is not worth our soul. We breathe once, and just like that, it can all be gone.

So today, let us ask:
What are we chasing?
What are we storing in our barns?
What are we building our lives on?

Let us love what is eternal, Christ Himself.

I hope you have a blessed and reflective Sunday.

God bless you.

Pal Ronnie

The Price of Discipleship: The Death of John the Baptist

Daily Mass Reflection

August 2, 2025

Readings:

• Old Testament: Leviticus 25:1, 8–17

• Psalm: 67:2–3, 5, 7–8

• Gospel: Matthew 14:1–12

Today’s readings are both solemn and powerful.

In Leviticus, God speaks to Moses about the sacred rhythm of time, the seven cycles of seven years, culminating in the Year of Jubilee, a time of liberation and renewal:

“You shall consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you.” (Leviticus 25:10)

On the Day of Atonement, the trumpet is to resound across the land, announcing freedom, restoration, and a return to right relationships. This is not merely about the passage of time, but about a spiritual reset, a divine call to forgive debts, free the oppressed, and recognize that everything belongs to the Lord:

“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; with me you are but aliens and tenants.” (Leviticus 25:23)

We should all embrace this spirit now and then, choose to forgive those who have wronged us or owe us, whether emotionally, spiritually, or materially. Let mercy mark our relationships.

The Responsorial Psalm echoes the dominion of God’s reign across all the earth:

“May God be gracious to us and bless us; may his face shine upon us... That your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.” (Psalm 67:1–2)

 

“O God, let all the nations praise you!” (Psalm 67:3)

It is a cry for justice, joy, and divine order, a longing for all people to experience the saving power of God.

In the Gospel (Matthew 14:1–12), we confront the cost of truth and integrity through the brutal martyrdom of John the Baptist. He dared to speak truth to power, he boldly confronted Herod over his unlawful relationship with Herodias, and for that, he paid the ultimate price:

“And he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother.” (Matthew 14:10–11)

Most of us will never be asked to give our lives in such a dramatic way, at least not in this part of the world. But following Christ still demands a real cost. We might be misunderstood, excluded, or even outright rejected for the truths we stand by and the values we live. We may not lose our heads, but we might lose our comfort, our invitations, or the approval of others.

So I ask you my friends, what price are you and I willing to pay to live out the truths we hold dear?

Will you hold your ground when it would be easier to stay silent?

Will you risk being uninvited from the table in order to remain faithful to your conscience?

These are not small questions. They are heavy, and they sit at the very heart of discipleship.

And may we both have the courage to stand for what is true, no matter the cost.

I remain your pal,
Ronnie

Abby Had a Haircut Today

 

Newport Pell Bridge RI

I was there just a few years ago. This was captured by my dear friend Adrian. He takes great pictures. 

On the U.N.: My Evolving View of the United Nations

I started following the UN and everything that international body does back in middle school in the late 1990s, growing up in Ghana. Fast forward to the 2010s, I found myself in the United States, and not just any state, but New York, where the UN headquarters is located. I actually visited the UN more than once.

But as time goes on, my admiration for that body has dropped, as fast as a hot potato.

You see, the UN was formed right after World War II in 1945. It established the five permanent members of the Security Council. In reality, those five nations are the only ones that really matter, just imagine that, five out of 200+ nations in the world. What a way to create an imbalance of global power.

By the way, those five permanent member states are China, Russia, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Take note, not one country from the continent of Africa. A continent with over a billion people has zero representation at the most powerful table on the global stage. All African nations are lumped into the General Assembly: all talk, no power. It's like being barked at by a toothless dog.

The sad part? Every year in September, some of these African countries, as poor as they are, spend so much money to send their heads of state to the UN for a few days of nothing but unproductive meetings.

I lost trust in the UN because over the years, it has been ineffective in managing global conflicts, especially in the Middle East. And this piece is not to simply bash the UN. But right now, we’re witnessing mass starvation in Gaza, and the UN is not doing nearly enough to alleviate it. This is the 21st century, and that level of barbarity over there without power from the UN is unacceptable.

Most people in America view the UN as highly ineffective and wouldn’t mind if it were abolished altogether. Still, many around the world continue to have faith in it. And honestly, I will be forgiving, if they can step up and do what is right for the small and least fortunate nations.

What do you think about the UN?

I remain your pal,
Ronnie

The East Rock Park New Haven CT

The East Rock Park by the way is a scenic natural escape just minutes from Yale University. Known for its striking cliffs and panoramic views of New Haven, the park offers a variety of beautiful hiking and walking trails. 

Whether you're looking for a peaceful stroll or a more vigorous hike, East Rock is a refreshing and easily accessible retreat right in the heart of the city of New Haven.

If you're in the area, take some time to walk around, enjoy the fresh air, and soak in the gorgeous weather. Enjoy more  pictures below.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Stay tuned! The plan is to visit as many parks wherever I find myself. I love parks, the fresh, the simple, natural beauty of nature.

I remain your adventurous pal,
-Ronnie-