Gospel: August 5, 2024
(Monday)
18th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 2 / (Green/White) Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome Responsorial Psalm: Ps 119: 29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102 Lord, teach me your statutes. 1st Reading: Jeremiah 28: 1-17
Gospel: Matthew 14: 13-21
When Jesus heard of it, he set out by boat for a secluded place to be alone. But the people heard of it, and they followed him on foot from their towns. When Jesus went ashore, he saw the crowd gathered there and he had compassion on them. And he healed their sick. Late in the afternoon, his disciples came to him and said, “We are in a lonely place and it is now late. You should send these people away, so they can go to the villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fishes.” Jesus said to them, “Bring them here to me.” Then he made everyone sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fishes, raised his eyes to heaven, pronounced the blessing, broke the loaves and handed them to the disciples to distribute to the people. And they all ate, and everyone had enough; then the disciples gathered up the leftovers, filling 12 baskets. About 5,000 men had eaten there, besides women and children.
Reflection:“They do not need to go away.”
Two Sundays ago, we reflected on the feeding of the multitude by Jesus as recounted by John’s Gospel. Today’s Gospel narrates the same event albeit as reported by Matthew. The disciples came to Jesus to suggest that the people be dismissed in order to find their own provisions since they were in a deserted place. Jesus clearly told the disciples that there was no need for the people to be sent away. He gave an instruction to his disciples that they themselves should give the people something to eat. The disciples’ reply to Jesus’ instruction betrayed their state of mind. They were worrying because they only had five loaves and two fish. Jesus multiplied the meager food supply which they had. Everybody, 5,000 men plus women and children, were able to eat and there were 12 baskets of leftover food. In our journey of faith, there are times when we are confronted with situation of scarcity. Faced with limitations, our common tendency is simply to give up rather than to creatively find possible solutions to the problems confronting us. Miracles do happen. They happen when we do not give up. They happen when we see possibilities.
