Eighteenth
Sunday In Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 112
Reading
1
Thus says the LORD:
All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
Come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!
Why spend your money for what is not bread;
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
the benefits assured to David.
All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
Come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!
Why spend your money for what is not bread;
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
the benefits assured to David.
Responsorial
Psalm
R. (cf. 16) The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all
our needs.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Reading
2
Brothers and sisters:
What will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor present things, nor future things,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor present things, nor future things,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late;
dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages
and buy food for themselves.”
Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;
give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to me,”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over—
twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men,
not counting women and children.
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late;
dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages
and buy food for themselves.”
Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;
give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to me,”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over—
twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men,
not counting women and children.
Meditation: Jesus
Blessed and Multiplied the Loaves and Fishes
What
can truly satisfy our deepest hunger and longing? Wherever Jesus went
multitudes of people gathered to meet him - people from every part of society -
rich and poor, professionals and laborers, even social outcasts and pagans.
What drew them to Jesus? Were they simply curious or looking for a healing?
Many were drawn to Jesus because they were hungry for God. Jesus' message of
God's kingdom and the signs and wonders he performed stirred fresh hope and
expectation that God was acting in a new and powerful way to set people free
from sin and oppression and to bring them the blessings of his kingdom.
God never rests in caring for our needs
Jesus never disappointed those who earnestly sought him out. We see a marvelous example of this when Jesus and his twelve disciples got into the boat to seek out a lonely place for some rest along the lake of Galilee, only to discover a crowd of a few thousand people had already gathered in anticipation of their arrival! Did Jesus' disciples resent this intrusion on their plan to rest awhile? Jesus certainly didn't - he welcomed them with open-arms. His compassion showed the depths of God's love and care for his people. Jesus spoke the word of God to strengthen them in faith and he healed many who were sick.
God multiplies the little we have to bring great blessing to others
As evening approached the disciples wanted Jesus to send the people away. Jesus, instead, commanded his disciples to feed the whole crowd. Why did Jesus expect his disciples to do what seemed impossible - to feed such a large and hungry crowd when there was no adequate provision in sight? Jesus very likely wanted to test their faith and to give them a sign of God's divine intervention and favor for his people. Jesus took the little they had - five loaves and two fish - and giving thanks to his heavenly Father, distributed to all until they were satisfied of their hunger. Twelves baskets full of fish and loaves that were leftover show the overflowing generosity of God's gifts to us - gifts that bring blessing, healing, strength, and refreshment.
Bread from heaven to sustain us on our journey
Jesus' feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospel accounts (Luke 9:10-17, Mark 6:34-44, John 6:51-58, Matthew 14:13-21). What is the significance of this miracle? The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude recalled the miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness under Moses' leadership and intercession for his people (Exodus 16). The daily provision of food for the people of Israel during their forty years of journeying in the barren wilderness foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would pass on to his disciples at his last supper meal on the eve of his sacrifice on the cross.
Jesus makes a claim which only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience (John 6:32-35). The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, when Jesus said the blessing, broke and distributed the loaves through his disciples to feed the multitude, is a sign that prefigures the superabundance of the unique bread of the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper which sustains us on our journey to the kingdom of heaven.
God multiplies the little we have so we can bring his blessing to others
The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves that we may have something to share with others, especially those who lack what they need. God takes the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do you trust in God's provision for you and do you share freely with others, especially those who lack?
God never rests in caring for our needs
Jesus never disappointed those who earnestly sought him out. We see a marvelous example of this when Jesus and his twelve disciples got into the boat to seek out a lonely place for some rest along the lake of Galilee, only to discover a crowd of a few thousand people had already gathered in anticipation of their arrival! Did Jesus' disciples resent this intrusion on their plan to rest awhile? Jesus certainly didn't - he welcomed them with open-arms. His compassion showed the depths of God's love and care for his people. Jesus spoke the word of God to strengthen them in faith and he healed many who were sick.
God multiplies the little we have to bring great blessing to others
As evening approached the disciples wanted Jesus to send the people away. Jesus, instead, commanded his disciples to feed the whole crowd. Why did Jesus expect his disciples to do what seemed impossible - to feed such a large and hungry crowd when there was no adequate provision in sight? Jesus very likely wanted to test their faith and to give them a sign of God's divine intervention and favor for his people. Jesus took the little they had - five loaves and two fish - and giving thanks to his heavenly Father, distributed to all until they were satisfied of their hunger. Twelves baskets full of fish and loaves that were leftover show the overflowing generosity of God's gifts to us - gifts that bring blessing, healing, strength, and refreshment.
Bread from heaven to sustain us on our journey
Jesus' feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospel accounts (Luke 9:10-17, Mark 6:34-44, John 6:51-58, Matthew 14:13-21). What is the significance of this miracle? The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude recalled the miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness under Moses' leadership and intercession for his people (Exodus 16). The daily provision of food for the people of Israel during their forty years of journeying in the barren wilderness foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would pass on to his disciples at his last supper meal on the eve of his sacrifice on the cross.
Jesus makes a claim which only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience (John 6:32-35). The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, when Jesus said the blessing, broke and distributed the loaves through his disciples to feed the multitude, is a sign that prefigures the superabundance of the unique bread of the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper which sustains us on our journey to the kingdom of heaven.
God multiplies the little we have so we can bring his blessing to others
The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves that we may have something to share with others, especially those who lack what they need. God takes the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do you trust in God's provision for you and do you share freely with others, especially those who lack?
Lord
Jesus Christ, you satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts and you feed us
with the finest of wheat (Psalm 81:16). Fill me with gratitude for your
blessings and give me a generous heart that I may freely share with others what
you have given to me.
Daily
Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The Lord fills all things with blessing
from above, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"So
that by every means the Lord might be known to be God by nature, he multiplies
what is little, and he looks up to heaven as though asking for the blessing
from above. Now he does this out of the divine economy, for our sake. For he
himself is the one who fills all things, the true blessing from above and from
the Father. But, so that we might learn that when we are in charge of the table
and are preparing to break the loaves, we ought to bring them to God with hands
upraised and bring down upon them the blessing from above, he became for us the
beginning and pattern and way." (excerpt from FRAGMENT 177)
EIGHTEENTH
SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, MATTHEW 14:13-21
(Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalms 145; Romans 8:35, 37-39)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, MATTHEW 14:13-21
(Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalms 145; Romans 8:35, 37-39)
KEY VERSE: "Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children" (v. 21).
TO KNOW: The long awaited Messiah was expected to be a prophet like Moses (Dt 18:15-18). It was hoped that he would repeat the wonders of the Exodus when Moses fed the people with "manna" in the desert (Ex 16:15). Likewise, the prophet Elisha miraculously fed a hundred people (2 Kgs 4:43-44). All four evangelists tell the story of Jesus and the multiplication of the loaves in the desert, which emphasized its importance as foreshadowing the Eucharist. The words "take, bless, break, and give" are still used in the Eucharistic liturgy today. Jesus gave the bread to the disciples and the disciples gave it to the crowd. Jesus worked through the hands of his followers that day, and he still does. It is true that the disciples were incapable of feeding so many on their own, but it is also true that the Lord needs people so he can act. Jesus says: "Come to me; bring me whatever you have, no matter how small, and I will use it greatly in my service." In the hands of Jesus, the little we have is always much. Jesus provided an over-abundance of bread for his hungry people. There were twelve baskets of fragments remaining, which may point beyond the Last Supper to the banquet of the Messiah at the final coming of the kingdom..
TO LOVE: What small steps can I take to help alleviate the problem of world hunger?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, thank you for being my food for life's journey.
Sunday 2 August 2020
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 55:1-3. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our
needs – Psalm 144(145):8-9, 15-18. Romans 8:35, 37-39. Matthew 14:13-21.
The feeding of the five thousand
Jesus, hearing of John the Baptist’s death, withdrew to the
wilderness. Whether Jesus was grieving for John or preparing for a new stage in
his ministry we cannot be sure. In either case he was swiftly interrupted,
beset by people seeking him and the healing he offered. Here he provides a
challenging example, instead of asserting his right to privacy and rest his compassion
for the people overflows in ministering to them through healing. In order to
allow them to remain with him Jesus then performs one of the greatest miracles
narrated in the Gospels, multiplying a small amount of food to provide for
thousands. It is deeply reassuring to me to know that, so long as we should
seek him, Jesus will not only receive us, but will provide whatever is needed
so that we can remain close to him.
Saint Eusebius of Vercelli
Saint of the Day for August 2
(c. 300 – August 1, 371)
 |
| Santo Eusébio Ressuscitando Três Pessoas | Raphael |
Saint Eusebius of Vercelli’s Story
Someone has said that if there had been no Arian heresy denying Christ’s
divinity, it would be very difficult to write the lives of many early saints.
Eusebius is another of the defenders of the Church during one of its most
trying periods.
Born on the isle of Sardinia, he became a member of the Roman
clergy, and is the first recorded bishop of Vercelli in Piedmont in northwest
Italy. Eusebius was also the first to link the monastic life with that of the
clergy, establishing a community of his diocesan clergy on the principle that
the best way to sanctify his people was to have them see a clergy formed in
solid virtue and living in community.
He was sent by Pope Liberius to persuade the emperor to call a
council to settle Catholic-Arian troubles. When it was called at Milan,
Eusebius went reluctantly, sensing that the Arian block would have its way,
although the Catholics were more numerous. He refused to go along with the
condemnation of Saint Athanasius; instead, he laid the Nicene Creed on the
table and insisted that all sign it before taking up any other matter. The emperor
put pressure on him, but Eusebius insisted on Athanasius’ innocence and
reminded the emperor that secular force should not be used to influence Church
decisions. At first the emperor threatened to kill him, but later sent him into
exile in Palestine. There the Arians dragged him through the streets and shut
him up in a little room, releasing him only after his four-day hunger strike.
They resumed their harassment shortly after.
His exile continued in Asia Minor and Egypt, until the new
emperor permitted him to be welcomed back to his see in Vercelli. Eusebius
attended the Council of Alexandria with Athanasius and approved the leniency
shown to bishops who had wavered. He also worked with Saint Hilary
of Poitiers against the Arians.
Eusebius died peacefully in his own diocese at an advanced age.
Reflection
Catholics in the U.S. have sometimes felt penalized by an
unwarranted interpretation of the principle of separation of Church and state,
especially in the matter of Catholic schools. Be that as it may, the Church is
happily free today from the tremendous pressure put on it after it became an
“established” Church under Constantine. We are happily rid of such things as a
pope asking an emperor to call a Church council, Pope John I being sent by the
emperor to negotiate in the East, or the pressure of kings on papal elections.
The Church cannot be a prophet if it’s in someone’s pocket.
Lectio Divina: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Lectio Divina
Sunday, August 2, 2020
The multiplication of the loaves
Matthew 14:13-21
Matthew 14:13-21
1. LECTIO
a) Opening prayer:
Come Holy Spirit
Come Fire of love
Come Father of the poor
Come Unction of my soul.
Come Fire of love
Come Father of the poor
Come Unction of my soul.
b)Reading:
13 When Jesus received this news He withdrew by boat to a lonely
place where they could be by themselves. But the crowds heard of this and,
leaving the towns, went after Him on foot. 14 So as He stepped ashore He saw a
large crowd; and He took pity on them and healed their sick. 15 When evening
came, the disciples went to Him and said, 'This is a lonely place, and time has
slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy
themselves some food.' 16 Jesus replied, 'There is no need for them to go: give
them something to eat yourselves.' 17 But they answered, 'All we have with us
is five loaves and two fish.' 18 So He said, 'Bring them here to me.' 19 He
gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then He took the
five loaves and the two fish, raised His eyes to heaven and said the blessing.
And breaking the loaves He handed them to His disciples, who gave them to the
crowds. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps
left over, twelve baskets full. 21 Now about five thousand men had eaten, to
say nothing of women and children.
c) A moment of silence:
so that the Word of God may enter into our hearts and enlighten
our lives.
2. MEDITATIO
a) A key to the reading:
All the Evangelists tell the story of the multiplication of the
loaves. While Luke and John only tell us of one multiplication of loaves (Lk
9:10-17; Jn 6:1-13), Mark and Matthew refer to two occasions of multiplication
(Mk 6:30-44; 8:1-10; Mt 14:13-21; 15:32-39). It seems that both stories in
Matthew and Mark came from the one source when loaves were multiplied, but
which was passed on in two versions according to different traditions. Besides,
the story in Mt 14:13-21 and Mk 6:30-44 seem to be the older versions. Here we
focus on the subject of our lectio divina, that is, the text of Mt
14:13-21.
This text presents Jesus at the time when He received the news
of the Baptist’s beheading by Herod (Mt 14:12). He goes apart «in a lonely
place» (Mt 14:13). The Gospels often show us Jesus as someone who goes apart.
Generally, but not always, this going apart presents a Jesus who is immersed in
prayer. Here are some examples: «After sending the people away, He went up a
hill by Himself to pray. When evening came, Jesus was there alone» (Mt 14:23);
«Very early in the morning, long before daylight, Jesus got up and left the
house. He went out of town to a lonely place, where He prays” (Mk 1:35); «He
would go away to lonely places, where He prayed» (Lk 5: 16); «led by the
Spirit» after His baptism, Jesus goes away into the desert to be tempted by the
devil and He overcomes the devil’s seductions by the power of the Word of God
(Mt 4:1-11; Mk 1:12-13; Lk 4:1-13). At other times, Jesus calls His disciples
to Him: «Let us go off by ourselves to someplace where we will be alone and you
can rest a while» (Mk 6:30-44). In our passage, Jesus prays before multiplying
the loaves. The Gospels show that Jesus liked to pray before important events
throughout His ministry such at His baptism, His transfiguration and His
passion.
This time the crowd follows Him into the desert (Mt 14:13) and
Jesus feels compassion for them and cures their sick (Mt 14:14). We often see
compassion in Jesus towards those who follow Him (Mt 15:32). The master is
moved because they «were like sheep without a shepherd» (Mk 6:34). Indeed,
Jesus is the good shepherd who nourishes His people like the prophet Elisha (2
Kings 4:1-7, 42-44) and like Moses in the desert (Ex 16; Nm 11). In John’s
Gospel, Jesus, in His discourse on the bread of life (Jn 6), explains the
meaning of the sign of the multiplication of the loaves. This miracle is a
preparation for the bread that will be given in the Eucharist. In all the Gospels,
Jesus’ actions before He multiplies the loaves, recall the rite of breaking the
bread, the Eucharist. The actions are: a) taking the bread, b) lifting «His
eyes up to heaven», c) pronouncing “the blessing», d) breaking the bread, e)
giving it to the disciples (Mt 14:19). These actions are found in the stories
of the multiplication of the loaves and, word for word, in the story of the
last supper (Mt 26:26).
All eat of the bread and are satisfied. Twelve baskets full of
leftovers are taken up. Jesus is the one who satisfies the chosen people of
God: Israel, made up of twelve tribes. But He also satisfies the pagans in the
second multiplication (Mt 15:32-39), symbolized now by seven baskets, the
number of the nations of Canaan (Acts 13:19) and also the number of the
Hellenist deacons (Acts 6:5; 21:8) who were given the task of providing for the
daily distribution at table. The community gathered around Jesus, a foretaste
of the Kingdom of God, welcomed Jews and Gentiles, all called to accept the
invitation to share at the table of the Lord. Jesus shows this also by His
action of sitting at table with publicans and sinners and, through His
teachings in the parables of the banquet where «many will come from the east
and the west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the
Kingdom of heaven» ( Mt 8: 11; see also Mt 22:34; Lk 14:16-24).
b) Some questions to guide our meditation and practice:
- What touched you most in this passage?
- Which of Jesus’ attitudes touched you most in this text?
- Have you ever thought of Jesus’ emotions? This text focuses on compassion. Can you find other emotions in the Gospels?
- What do you think God wishes to tell you through this story of the multiplication of the loaves?
- Jesus provides food in abundance. Do you trust in the providence of the Lord? What does it mean for you to trust in providence?
- Have you ever thought of the Eucharist as sitting down at table with Jesus? Who are those invited to this table?
- Which of Jesus’ attitudes touched you most in this text?
- Have you ever thought of Jesus’ emotions? This text focuses on compassion. Can you find other emotions in the Gospels?
- What do you think God wishes to tell you through this story of the multiplication of the loaves?
- Jesus provides food in abundance. Do you trust in the providence of the Lord? What does it mean for you to trust in providence?
- Have you ever thought of the Eucharist as sitting down at table with Jesus? Who are those invited to this table?
3. ORATIO
a) Psalm 78:24-25:
He rained down manna to feed them,
He gave them the wheat of heaven;
mere mortals ate the bread of the Mighty,
He sent them as much food as they could want.
He gave them the wheat of heaven;
mere mortals ate the bread of the Mighty,
He sent them as much food as they could want.
b) Closing prayer:
O God, who in the compassion of Your Son towards us, show us
Your fatherly goodness, grant that the bread multiplied by Your providence may
be broken in love, and the communion in the bread come down from heaven open us
to dialogue with and service of our brothers and sisters. Through Christ our
Lord.
4. CONTEMPLATIO
There is one other point which I would like to emphasize, since
it significantly affects the authenticity of our communal sharing in the
Eucharist. It is the impulse which the Eucharist gives to the community
for a practical commitment to building a more just and fraternal society.
In the Eucharist our God has shown love in the extreme, overturning all those
criteria of power which too often govern human relations and radically
affirming the criterion of service: “If anyone would be first, he must be last
of all and servant of all” (Mk 9:35). [...] Can we not make this Year
of the Eucharist an occasion for diocesan and parish communities to commit
themselves in a particular way to responding with fraternal solicitude to one
of the many forms of poverty present in our world? I think for example of the
tragedy of hunger which plagues hundreds of millions of human beings, the
diseases which afflict developing countries, the loneliness of the elderly, the
hardships faced by the unemployed, the struggles of immigrants. These are evils
which are present - albeit to a different degree - even in areas of immense
wealth. We cannot delude ourselves: by our mutual love and, in particular, by
our concern for those in need we will be recognized as true followers of Christ
(cf. Jn 13:35; Mt 25:31-46). This will be the criterion by
which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations is judged.
John Paul II, Mane Nobiscum Domine, 28.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét