READINGS:
1 R : 1 KGS 12 :26 - 32; 13 : 33 - 34.
Ps 105 : 6 - 7 a, 19 - 20, 21 - 22.
Gos : MK 8 : 1 - 10.
EVANGELISTS MATHEW AND MARK NARRATE TWO MIRACLES OF FEEDING THE MULTITUDE.
1. FEEDING 4,000 WITH 7 LOAVES AND FEW SMALL FISH
2. FEEDING 5,000 WITH 5 LOAVES AND TWO FISH.
BOTH MIRACLES WERE IN RESPONSE TO PEOPLE'S BASIC NEEDS AND IN BOTH JESUS TAKES THE INITIATIVE.
BUT CAREFULLY NOTE THE CIRCUMSTANCES:
THEY WERE LISTENING TO JESUS FOR THREE DAYS AND SOME OF THEM HAD COME FROM LONG DISTANCE.
SO THE NEED TO FEED THEM WAS URGENT.
IT IS THEREFORE A MIRACLE WHERE JESUS SHOWED HIS COMPASSION.
JUST REFLECT ON PEOPLE'S EAGERNESS TO LISTEN TO JESUS THEY EVEN FORGOT THAT THEY HAVE TO EAT !
IS IT THE CASE WITH US ?
HAVE WE DEVELOPED / SUSTAINED SUCH EAGERNESS FOR THE WORD OF GOD AND FOR THINGS DIVINE ?
SOME MAY CONCLUDE FROM THIS MIRACLE THAT WE SHOULD FEED THOSE WHO COME FOR PRAYER, DEVOTIONS ETC.
BUT THE REAL IMPORT OF THIS MIRACLE IS TO BE COMPASSIONATE TO THE IMMEDIATE NEED OF THE HOUR.
AT ONE TIME IT MAY BE TO FEED ; AT OTHER IT MAY BE TO FAST ; OR TO CONSOLE ; OR TO INSTRUCT ; OR TO GUIDE ; OR TO SHOW EMPATHY;THE LIST CAN BE ENDLESS.
SHALL WE RESOLVE TODAY TO DEVELOP SENSITIVITY AND COMPASSION LIKE JESUS ?
