God's generosity through the unexpected wages

Ezekiel 34:1-11. Matthew 20:1-16

Today’s Gospel reading presents us with the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. This parable, as told by Jesus, challenges our understanding of justice, fairness, and the boundless generosity of God.

In the story, a landowner goes out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. He agrees to pay them a denarius for the day’s work—a fair wage. As the day progresses, he goes out again at the third, sixth, ninth, and even eleventh hour, hiring more workers and promising to pay them “whatever is right.” At the end of the day, he pays each worker the same wage, regardless of how many hours they worked. Naturally, those who worked all day grumble, feeling it is unfair that those who worked only one hour receive the same pay.

This parable might resonate with us in a world that values fairness and equal pay for equal work. We are inclined to sympathize with those who laboured longer, thinking they deserve more. But Jesus uses this parable to reveal a deeper truth about the Kingdom of Heaven—God’s ways are not our ways.

God’s Generosity: At the heart of this parable is the extraordinary generosity of God. The landowner in the story represents God, who pours out His love and grace abundantly and freely. Just as the landowner gave equally to all, God offers His mercy, forgiveness, and salvation to everyone, no matter when they come to Him. It is a reminder that we cannot earn God’s grace by our own efforts. The denarius given to the workers is not merely a reward for their labour; it symbolizes the gift of eternal life. Whether we have served God our whole lives or only come to faith later, the reward is the same, eternal union with God.

The Call to Humility: The parable also calls us to humility. The early labourers grumble because they compare themselves to others. How often do we, too, fall into the trap of comparing our lives, our works, our faith, to those of others? This comparison leads to jealousy, resentment, and a sense of entitlement, forgetting that everything we have is a gift from God. God’s Kingdom operates on principles of grace, not human merit. Our worth before God is not based on our accomplishments or the number of hours we have served but on His unmerited love for each of us.

Invitation to Trust in God’s Ways: Finally, this parable invites us to trust in God’s ways, even when they seem mysterious or unfair by human standards. God’s justice is always tempered with mercy. He sees the hearts of all His children and knows their needs. He is more concerned with our salvation than with a strict calculation of our deeds.

In this way, the parable encourages us to rejoice in God’s generosity to others and to recognize that His blessings are not diminished when shared. We should be grateful that God’s love knows no bounds, that He is patient, and that He calls us at every stage of life. God’s Kingdom is not about what we deserve but about what God generously gives. May we open our hearts to receive His grace with gratitude and humility. In God’s vineyard, there is room for everyone, and the reward is eternal life with Him. 

John 15 (the First religious Profession)

Carmelite Missionary Sisters 

Recently I read an article by Sr. Mary, titled “Religious life as a garden” and she is a Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, who had many years of missionary experience in Peru, “I have experienced religious life as a beautiful garden that is helping us to grow and bloom.” Today’s gospel John 15 reminds us that life in the religious life (Congregation) is like life in a garden; a variety of plants, flower plants, vegetable plants, etc. The Carmelite family has various flowers in the garden (in Church history, the saints are often associated with particular flowers); St. Teresa of Avila, Teresa of Child Jesus, St. Teresa Benedicta, John of the Cross, etc. We wish and pray for you that one day you may also become a flower in this garden.     

There are three understandings of religious life as a garden

1. God, the Father is the good gardener: 

We have many gardeners sa Servants; kuya Bulit, Mateo Tam, Cuong, Who is the good gardener? We are all not good gardeners. Good gardeners should test the soil, protect it from tupa, water it and care for it. Even we, the formators and superiors are not certainly good gardeners. God is a good gardener. He knows the type of garden, and what is good for you, God knows what is best for you, because he knows better than we know ourselves.

God is the source of charism, “I knew you, when you were in your mother’s womb” (Jer 2:5). He has granted you this gift of charism, Therefore, he is a good gardener of your religious life. 

Give your full availability to the action of the gardener. Allow yourselves to be formed by the hands of the gardener. Have your connection with the gardener, talking time frequently to be alone with Him, who we know loves us. Trust him, be open and give your availability to “wherever the glory of God calls me” the words of your founder, Surrender yourselves to the gardener,

Gardener is pruning also: This gardener not only waters, and cares but also prunes, “He cuts off every branch that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful”, pruning is part of the gardener’s care. Let us be ready for this process of allowing ourselves to be formed/transformed/pruned. 

2. Jesus, the real vine: 

Have you known about the Passion fruit, which is popular in Viet Nam? Recently I read the news, that Vietnamese farmers in Gia Lai Province abandoned coffee gardens for passion fruit because it gives more profit. 

The Passionfruit plant needs something to climb on other trees or another vine. Our religious life is also built-in support of Jesus. He says, “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the me. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” 

Jesus has called you to for this friendly, spousal, and loving relationship with him by listening to his Word, The Word of God is your bread for support. Eucharist is the sign of your spousal union with Jesus. “without me, you can do nothing” 15:5, remain in him rooted, if you want to be a Carmelite nun forever. Do not fall into the temptation of growing like an individual plant but being supported with Jesus. 

We need these supplies for plant growth. Water, sunlight, fertilizers, In our religious life also, we need the Word of God, the Eucharist and Marian devotion. They are helping you with your personal growth and maturation process. 

3. Now the responsibility of each plant is to bear fruits/flowers: 

People love only these two parts; Flowers and fruits. Flowers are useful for decoration; fruits are served to eat. After the profession, you will be assigned to the mission. You are going to work in the following categories of ministry: Catholic education, health care ministry, socio-pastoral ministry, ministry of spirituality, and missionary. You are going to share with the people what you will receive now that is Jesus and his care. 

Unlike the other congregations, your founder stressed very much ecclessiality, for he said, “I will live for the Church and I will die for her.”  Remember we are walking with the Church. Today we need a church not simply walk in front of the people or behind the people but is capable of walking at people’s side.

We need to accept the reality that everyone is different, we are made in human likeness, communion is important, and be patient like the gardener who waits for looking for the fruits (Luke 13). So, he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still, I find none”. The gardener says let us wait this year also, I will put manure and work. 

There are some plants giving flowers throughout the year. Some flowers will bloom only after so many years. The Kurinji flower is one of the rarest flowers that bloom once every 12 years in India. Every one of you is a creature of God; you are different, and everyone is a treasure in our eyes. 

Pope Francis expresses this fear every time he meets consecrated people, “Many are abandoning the religious life today”. He is not discouraging you, but telling the reality. Many are leaving religious life, because of the crisis of faith; no hunger for God, not able to face the disappointments of community life, influence of modern culture. If the world is strong, we need to fight with our faith. 

Be together and live the life of communion. Hold one another. The desire of your founder, “One heart animated by one and the same spirit” to encourage one another, and work hard every day without being satisfied with the results.  

We wish you a successful and holy life in the garden. 

We remember and thank your parents, who once used to water the plant, providing sunlight for you to grow and giving fertilizers; they nurtured you in faith so that one day you could become a tree and that you live a saintly life in serving God and the Poor. we thank you for offering these young girls for offering to the Carmelite garden of the family.  

God bless you!

John 21:15-19

 This Gospel occurs only in the Gospel of John. Why? 

Because it happens only when they are alone. The disciples are napping (siesta) after breakfast, Jesus calls John for a personal dialogue and asking his love proposal. There would not be anybody around them and so did not record other evangelists. 

Some also say John wrote this particular incident of love because there was a kind of tension between John's and Peter's communities. This is written by John to authenticate John's community Jesus' call to the early Church because they thought that the Church was scandalized by the denial of Peter. John's three love proposals equalize the three denials of Peter.  

Though the word ‘love’ is given three times, in the original text there is a difference. In the first two instances, we have the word ‘agapao’ (‘selfless love’), while in the third instance, we have ‘phileo’ (‘friendship’ or ‘friendly love’). In the third question, Jesus asks Peter about his personal relationship with him. There, Peter surrenders, saying, “Lord, you know everything!” Our relationship with Jesus, though it begins at a functional level, moves towards a relational or personal level.

1. Jesus comes down to have a friendly relationship with John. He proposes a friendly model to all other followers. 

Jesus aims from us the personal relationship, 

Feast of Matthias

 Feast of Matthias

Liverpool, one of the famous English Premier League teams has a consistent strategy for their winning.  They are known for sending last-minute substitutes in the football game. The best players like Harvey Elliot, Neymar, Ibrahimovic and Salah used to sit on the benches and watch the game until 70-80 minutes. When they enter into the field, all the other players are almost tired. The statistics tell that this kind of last-minute substitute players score many goals. 

Matthias is also like the last-minute substitution player who was chosen to be the apostle at the last moment by lot. Why? Knowing the will of God through lots was a Jewish custom. The Apostles wanted to retain the original number of followers of Jesus to 12, in continuation with the understanding of the Church as the New Israel. at the last moment, Matthias entered into the field and became the twelfth apostle.

What are the lessons for us?

(a) Everyone of us can become an apostle. It is enough that you wait for your opportunity. He was not in the list of other disciples who had not seen Jesus, who were not called by him, and who did not follow him during his earthly ministry. Matthias represents every one of us – Being called an apostle means being raised to the level of a friend. 

(b) Do not blame attitude - but wait for your opportunity and grab it and perform well. Events happen to us in life. At times, events are out of our control. We should not lament about the situation and spend time worrying about it, rather We need to accept the events not as occurrences but as our responsibilities. We have to wait for the opportunity and perform the best in this opportunity. Matthias did not blame for Judas, neither the early community, but focus on someone who would perform the rest of the works of Jesus. 

(c) Jesus says to his apostles, “I have loved you, chosen you, and appointed you.” The initiative is from God. Allowing the initiatives of God to take their place in our lives demands surrender and obedience.

Sixth Week of Easter

Lydia becomes a symbol of today's evangelization. The work of the apostles was done both in sacred places and secular places. Sacred places because the evangelization was done primarily in the temple of Jerusalem, synagogues and in the temples of other Gods. But also it was done in secular places like dusty roads, banks of the river, households, and in the courtyards of the rulers.

The first reading brings before us the event of Paul preaching the gospel of Jesus along the banks of the river on the outskirts of Philippi. The women who were at the river banks listened to Paul’s teaching – all those who were washing their clothes, taking baths, bathing the children, watering the cattle, and cleaning the utensils – were listening to Paul. Evangelization can be done in simplest ways not always in rigid ways. 

Luke writes about a woman named ‘Lydia’: Lydia was a businesswoman or an entrepreneur, a dealer of purple cloth. She could be compared to the owners of textiles in our Country. The pink colour was worn by the high class and the elites.

Lydia was listening to Paul intentionally and intensively. God transforms her heart. She, along with her entire household, receives baptism, which may be in the river. Baptism is administered there in its simplest form—without a candle, sponsors, chrism, oil of catechumenate, white dress, and photographer.

Even the banks of the river become the spaces of God experience.

Lydia, who accepted the Lord’s word into her heart, also accepted the Lord’s servant into her home. Luke records: “She offered us an invitation, ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,’ and she prevailed on us.

We see here another good quality in Lydia. She did not want to receive salvation ‘freely.’ She wanted to repay it with her generous hospitality. When we receive an act of goodness or kindness, we must always give it back. This is the Law of the Universe.

Lydia teaches us the following lessons:

• Openness to accept new things and people – shown in her conversion of heart.

• Hospitality to the strangers – revealed through her welcome to the apostles.

• Immediate recompense – giving back to the world what she has received as kindness.

In the gospel reading, Jesus talks about the coming of the Holy Spirit, and warns the disciples about the crises and conflicts that they may have to face. / Jesus warns them that they will be expelled from the synagogues. Being expelled from the synagogue was a problem, but Paul converted into an opportunity. He takes the gospel to the river banks. Proclamation of the word is possible everywhere.

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday Homily 2023

There is a long weekend, maraming bacasyon for this holy week, Millions of Catholics in the country share faith in their families. It is a great time for the Church to makes at the end of the Lenten season. Finally, Apat na punga araw tapos ngayon. 

Sinisimulan na natin Triduum, tatlong araw na pagdiriwang; three solemn days in the liturgical calendar; ang kapistahan ng Huwebes Santo (tinatawag din na Maundy Huwebes), Biyernes Santo, at ang Easter Vigil-Pasko ng Pagkabuhay. 

It is also called Maundy Thursday; Mandy comes from the Latin word Mandatum which means to command, it refers to the new law given by the Lord during supper, “I give to you today, love one another as I have loved you” binigyan ko kayo ng halimbawa at itoy dapat ninoyng tularan. Today Jesus teaches a Love lesson through the example of washing. 

(1) unang anibersaryo ng Sacramento ng banal na Eucaristiya (Institution of the Holy Eucharist)

2) anibersaryo ng ministerial priesthood, The Church appoints some ministers to convey God’s forgiveness.

Ang Eukaristiya ay hindi invention ng mga disciples ni Jesus: hindi bago sa history. In the first reading we heard the origin of the Paschal meal, the first Paschal meal that the people of Israel celebrated as they awaited their salvation from slavery. 

Kumakain sila sa loob ng bahay ng lilizon, cordero, ang dugo nito, At kukuha sila ng dugo niyan, at ilalagay sa dalawang haligi ng pinto at sa itaas ng pintuan, sa mga bahay. God says Lalampasan ko ang lahat ng bahay na makita kong may pahid na dugo, at walang pinsalang mangyayari sa inyo sa pagpaparusa ko sa buong egipto. 

It is a Passover event from death to life. God is passing over in our life offering life removing death. 

In the second reading we heard the latest account of the Last Supper which is found in the letter of Paul to the Corinthians he clearly said this paschal meal was practiced by the apostles and early church traditions. 

Every time you celebrate the Eucharist, remember we are part of the history of salvation. Since the Israel people celebrated pass over, Since Jesus celebrated the Last Supper, then Paul and peter and all the apostles celebrated the memorial of the Lord of Jesus up to this time. Whenever we celebrate mass, we join with all the billions of people who were ahead of us in the past 2,000 years ago, who will come after us until the Lord comes again, 

Meron isang libro called “the eucharistic miracles in the world”; incredible eucharistic healings in the lives of saints and ordinary people. How many are being healed by the Eucharist? Eucharist is also existing in other churches namely the Orthodox church, Anglicans and Lutherans. Pero Catholics are different because for them Eucharist is the source of the Christian life. It is the heart/center of the church. and it is consumed within the holy mass. 

Hindi na ito isang ala ala, isang souvenir, isang pakikiisa, (It is a memorial, not a pasalubong, or souvenir). Memorial means participation/sacrifice in death. we do this, in obedience to him, what he said, gawin mo ito pag-alala sa akin. do this in memory of me, kaya wag natin isipin bilang misa kulang o misa lang ng servants. Ang bawat misa ay ang misa ni Jesus o ng simbahan. 

May tanong ako para sayio. Ano ang mas mahalaga sa pagdiriwang ng misa? What is important to celebrate the mass? 

Can Catholics celebrate mass without priest? No. Other Churches can do kasama ng mga pastors. You can have Siete Palabras, walang pari, liturgy of the word, meron mga lectors. Pero If you want to celebrate the mass, you should have pari. 

Therefore, the priest must be male because the priest iconically manifests the liturgical presence and action of Jesus, who was and is a male human being. He is acting in persona Christi. Ang Stola at Tuwalya: which symbolizes our services to God and humanity. Love and service are the two sacraments. The Stole represents the Dignity of the Priest, the Towel stands for the Duty of the Priest. The priest is called upon to unite with the Lord in the Eucharist and the people as their servants.

Ngayong umaga ng 7 am, nag celebrate ang mga pari kay diocese of Novalichese, ang Chrism mass. Bakit? Their Priests are invited to renew their priestly promises, before their own Bishop, the promises they made at their priestly Ordination. I just want to read so that you may know the real identity of the priest. 

1. Bishop: Christ our Lord conferred his priesthood…  

Every priest is participating directly in the priesthood of Christ. It’s a new understanding of Vatican II. The understanding before Vatican II was that, a priest was participating in the priesthood of the Bishop. In this new understanding, Christ is the source of all the priests and they act in persona Christi. Priest’s identity lies in his (ontological) bond with Christ himself. 

A priest may be a fool, useless, but through consecration, he received “a sacramental representation of Christ, High Priest”. All the faithful are participating in the common priesthood through Baptism, while the chosen priests are part of the ministerial priesthood with an indelible sacramental character. The priest has received the indelible seal of the Holy Spirit that he is the minister of Christ "forever and ever" (Jn 14:16-17). This every priest should know that he will never lose the presence and the effective power of the Holy Spirit though they are weak and not exemplary, committed sins. 

• Sick priest – Padre Pio, who bore stigmata for many years

• Ugly and Incapable priests – John Maria Vianney won many souls for God. 

Do not dishonor or hate the priest because of his external characteristics. Every priest has a story born in the humanity of Jesus. 

2. Bishop: Are you resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus? 

Priesthood is a journey, it is not a state you reach within a day, every day he should carry on his journey. Journey reserved for Christ. The aim of this journey, to be united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him…  willingly and joyfully pledged, Ang Diocesan Pries serves the particular pastoral needs of his parish, such as visiting the sick and spiritually accompanying parishioners through sacraments. Instead, religious priests work in a religious family called a community, guided by a particular charism, doing a variety of ministries, ministries to the elderly, special children and etc following the three vows. Only one end is unity with the Lord. Prayer, the Word of God and the Eucharist are his daily life.  

In the life of priests, all the time won’t be the feast moments. There will be moments like “Jesus’ prayer of Gethsemane” where even our Lord had the most human and dramatic part of Jesus’ prayers… “My soul is sorrowful even to death, remain watchful and pray for me (Mk 14:33ff.)” not to gossip against them. The bestone

3. Not seeking any personal gain/personal profit, But moved only by zeal for souls? 

Priest is not for himself, but for God and for you. – Said Vianney. A priest is a man of God, he should have a spirit against materialism they do not have a bank balance, at least the religious. because of his identity and his belonging to God and the Church.

• Lorenzo Ruiz, for the young people

• Pedro Calungsod for the catechists, 

It would be unfair not to express our gratitude to all those priests who faithfully and generously spend their lives in the service of others. Then the bishop asks the people to pray for their priests. Ask the Lord to bless them with the fullness of his love, to help them be faithful ministers of Christ the High Priest. 

Please pray for the priests who think that nobody understands, the missionary priests who renounce their nations, and people and work among the people. Elderly, sick, and abandoned priests… many priests died as martyrs for the sake of faith. Vietnamese martyrs, Korean martyrs...

Holy Thursday Homily 2024

Tapos na ngayon, Apat na punga araw, Sinisimulan na natin Triduum, tatlong araw na pagdiriwang; ang kapistahan ng Huwebes Santo, Biyernes Santo, at ang Easter Vigil-Pasko’ ng Pagkabuhay. 

Today also is called as Maundy Thursday; Mandy comes from the Latin word Mandatum which means to command, it refers to the new law given by the Lord during supper, “binigyan ko kayo ng halimbawa at itoy dapat ninoyng tularan”.  Today love celebration day, a Love lesson through the example of washing. 

Today is the last supper day, day of the Eucharistiya. Ano ang Eucharistiya, hindi na ito isang pasalubong or gift pero it is a memorial. It means participation/sacrifice in death. we do this, in obedience to him, what he said, gawin mo ito pag-alala sa akin, kaya wag natin isipin bilang misa kulang o misa lang ng servants/mass of priest…. Ang bawat misa ay ang misa ni Jesus o ng simbahan. 

Every time you participate in the Eucharist, remember we are part of the history of salvation. Since the Israel people celebrated pass over, Since Jesus celebrated the Last Supper, then Paul and Peter and all the apostles celebrated the memorial of the Lord of Jesus up to this time. Whenever we celebrate mass, we join with all the billions of people who were ahead of us in the past 2,000 years ago, who will come after us until the Lord comes again, 

Today Jesus tells Eucharist in action, sabi ng ebanghelyo when Jesus had finished watching their feet of his garment again went back to the table, said, “Tinatawag Ninyo akong guro ang …. 

yung araw na ito, na ipinagdiriwang natin ang pagtatatag ng eukaristiya, ang ebanghelyo ay hindi pa tungkol sa institusyon ng eukaristiya, hindi po ito “ang take this love, you eat it,  hindi po ito yung salita na sinabi ni Hesus sa huling hapunan, kundi ang paghuhu’gas ng paa, dahil malaking reminder sa ating lahat, na huwag limitahan ang yukaristiya  sa isang ritwal at dasal na ginagawa po natin /sa tuwing tayo nagmimisa ang banal na yukaristiya ay nagaganap sa dalawang bahagi na ng buhay natin/ first part is prayer, second part is action,

because Right after ang ikalawang yugto ng yukaristiya ay nagaganap sa labas, kapag tayo ay tulad ni Jesus, lumuluhod ang naglilingkod, naghuhugas ng paa, Hindi po, nararamdaman na tayo ay mataas kaysa iba na tayo ay importante pa kaysa iba, (kneels down..)

Dine in or take out: THE STORY is told about a priest who, in giving communion to the faithful, would sometimes encounter communicants who would approach him with open hands and also with open mouths. How did he deal with the confusion? After saying, “The Body of Christ,” he would tell them: “OK. Make up your mind. Dine-in or take-out?”

In fact, the question “Dine-in or take-out?” underlines a very important point about our reception of the Eucharist, and that is, that the Eucharist should be both a dine-in and a take-out experience. We revere the Eucharist (devotional), and we also live the Eucharist in our daily lives (actual). We must integrate the contemplative and active aspect of the Eucharist in our lives. All our actions should lead to the Eucharist, and all our actions must proceed from our encounter and empowerment from the Lord in the Eucharist. 

Do you Understand What I have done? I was touched by this gospel word today, “Do you understand?” 

after washing the feet of the disciples Jesus said to them Do you understand what I have done to you? It has many meanings to tell us. Lord is asking, Do you really understand ang ginawa ko para sayo… Naintindihan mo na ako ang iyong Panginoon, ngunit lumuhod ako sa iyong harapan, binaba ang iyong sarili ko upang ikaw ay Linisin,  upang ikaw ay mahalin, upang iparamdam sayo, kung gaano ka kahalaga sa aking 

Do you really understand kung gaano kang importante para sa akin, at na hinubad ang aking sariling karangalang para lang maging parang Alipin sa iyong paa, (Do you really understand how important you are to me, and that stripped my own honor just to be like a Slave at your feet)

ito pong ginagawa ng nanay sa kanyang anak ng maliit, lumuluhod Dahil sa pagmamahal, (this is what the mother does to her little child, kneeling because of love,) Do you understand how important you are, do you understand how humble I am, 

We need to pray this during the adoration? Why This feeling na Wala kang kwentang tao feeling na hindi ka mahalaga sa akin bakit yung damdamin at pinabayaan kita o di kaya Bakit yung yung pride mo, (Why This feeling that you are a worthless person feeling that you are not important to me why the feeling and I let you down or maybe Why is it your pride,)

hindi mo kayang ibaba ang sarili mo/ di mo kayang patawarin ang anak mo/ di mo kayang makipagkasundo sa kapitbahay mo, pinakaworst na bagay na ginawa sayinyo, na hindi mo kapatawad. 

Please When you go home, don’t wash the ang pa ani your mother, listen to her, ask pardon, say sorry, I love you, 

Today pray for priests, this morning, in the Good Shepherd, Novalichese Diocese, all the priests renewed the priestly promises, Yung paglilingkod ay walang retirement, country, community, persons will be changing from time to time, God will give them grace to continue the service. 

Pray for priests; new priests, sick priests, priests in mission, priests in loneliness, elderly priests, 

Pray for Seminarians 

The Wicked and the righteous (John 7:25-30)

The first reading is taken from the Wisdom of Solomon, a Deutero-canonical book written in the context of Hellenization (Greek language, culture, religion, and philosophy) propagated by Alexander the Great. The author calls the Jews who left their religion to cling on to the Greek way of life wicked and calls those who clung to Judaism righteous.

Though the righteous were small in number, they were pebbles in the shoes of the wicked, who wanted to get rid of them at any cost. The author encourages the righteous to remain in their righteousness, giving them the message that God is at their side and he will not abandon them.

What are the harms that the wicked do to the righteous? (a) They consider them trouble; (b) They plot against them; and (c) They await their death.

The author concludes that it is not the plot of the wicked that wins, but the plan of God that wins in the end.

In the gospel reading, the first tension between the Jews and Jesus comes to an end. The conflict, which began with the event of Jesus healing a sick man at Bethesda, continues through Jesus multiplying the loaves. The Jews want to arrest Jesus and confine him, but they do not.

Both readings acknowledge the fact that there is a conflict between the wicked and the righteous.

The lessons for us are: Whatever evil befalls us, let us be firm because God is at our side; everything happens not according to the plot of the wicked but according to the plan of God.