Faith Opportunities (Jn 6:6) by Shane Kapler

12 Apr Faith Opportunities (Jn 6:6) by Shane Kapler

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
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“[Jesus] said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.” ~ Jn 6:6 (full readings)
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Shane’s Reflections: Seeing the massive crowd coming upon them, Jesus asked the Apostle Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”  Like the vast majority of us, Philip took stock of the situation and mumbled, “Over 200 days worth of my pay wouldn’t be enough to give each of these people a mouth full!”  Jesus used the sight of the approaching crowd as an opportunity to draw out an expression of Philip’s faith, and he uses a variety of intimidating circumstances in our lives to do the same thing.  Philip was surprised by the predicament they found themselves in, but Jesus had already seen it coming and already knew how He was going to respond.  When Jesus asked the question Philip missed his opportunity to respond, “I don’t know Lord, but You do.  How do You plan for us to feed them?  Tell me, and I’ll do it.”
* Shane Kapler is the author of “The God Who is Love: Explaining Christianity From Its Center” and co-author of “Tending the Temple”. He works as a speech therapist in St. Louis, but his favorite “job” is being a Dad. Visit www.explainingchristianity.com.
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Faith Challenge: Next time you’re caught off guard by a situation, or the culture of death in which we find ourselves tempts you to despair, put the lesson from today’s gospel into practice.  View it as Jesus asking you a question, trying to draw out your trust in Him.  Answer him immediately, “Lord, I’m completely caught off guard, devastated by this; but You saw this  moment coming long before I was ever born, and You know what I need to move forward.  Please show me what I need to do.  Please give me the grace.”  Jesus does have an answer for you … even if His answer is to bestow the grace of martyrdom.  And His answer will build your faith and that of the crowd (family and friends) around you.
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Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day: St. Teresa of los Andes
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Faith Quote: “Before the mountains were born / the earth and the world brought forth / from eternity to eternity you are God.” ~ Psalm 90:2
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Through Christ our Lord,
Shane