Gospel Reading: Luke 9: 11-17
Jesus made the crowds welcome and he talked to them about the Kingdom of God; and he cured those who were on need of healing. It was late afternoon when the twelve came to him and said, “Send the people away, and they can go to the villages and farms round about to find lodging and food for we are in a lonely place here.” He replied, ” Give them something to eat yourselves.” But they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we are to go ourselves and buy food for all these people.” men. But he said to his disciples, “Get them to sit down in parties of about fifty.” They did so and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven, and said the blessing over them; then he broke them and handed them to the disciples to distribute to the crowd. They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps remaining were collected, they filled twelve baskets.
GUIDELINES TO HELP US TO MEDITATE ON THE PASSAGE SO AS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE GOD’S PRESENCE AND ACTIVITY IN OUR LIVES AND WORLD TODAY.
Can you remember somebody or some event that brought home to you that we are our brother’s and sister’s keeper and you felt challenged “to give them something to eat yourself”.? Lord, fill our hearts with an active compassion for all those in need in our neighbourhood, city, country and world.
Can you remember a time when you hesitantly and humbly took ” five loaves and two fish”….? all you had at the time, and were amazed when the needs of someone were satisfied beyond your expectation? Lord, fashion our hearts to be like that of your Son Jesus so that we will be a people who when we see others in crises will “take what we have,” – talents, gifts, resources, “bless it” – receive it with gratitude from God and “break it and hand it out” – put it at the service of others, and in doing so, recognize that we are His eyes, hands and heart in the world today – truly the Body of Christ – Corpus Christi!
