Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Matthew 14:14-15 

14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 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.” 

The disciples were not wrong to notice the needs of the crowd. They had watched Jesus pour himself out in compassion, healing the sick and caring for those who came to him. As evening fell, they saw hungry people in a lonely place, and they wanted to protect both the crowd and Jesus. Their suggestion came from concern: send the people away while there is still time to find food. 

In their own way, the disciples were trying to be compassionate. And perhaps that is where this passage begins to speak to us. We often see what others need to do. We can name the practical next step, offer advice, and point people toward what seems best. But Jesus invites us to ask a deeper question: does our compassion stop at concern, or is he calling us to stay present, to trust him, and to become part of his care for others? 

– Pr. Paul 

Lord Jesus, we know that time is our most precious commodity, and we are reluctant to give up even a minute. Teach our hearts that when we live life in your name, doing the things you do, our time will be richly blessed instead of wasted. Amen.