Gospel (Mt 14, 13-21)
At that time, when Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew and went by boat to a deserted place, apart. The crowds heard of it and, leaving their towns, they followed on foot. When he landed, he saw a large crowd of people; he had compassion on them and healed their sick. When evening came, the disciples came and said to him: “The place is deserted and it is already late. So send the crowd away: let them go to the villages to buy food! » But Jesus said to them: “There is no need for them to go away. Feed them yourselves. » Then they said to him: “We have only five loaves and two fish. » Jesus said: “Bring them to me. » Then, ordering the crowd to sit down on the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fish, and, raising his eyes to heaven, he pronounced the blessing; he broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. We picked up the pieces that remained: it made twelve full baskets. Those who had eaten were about five thousand, not counting women and children. Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Other readings: Is 55, 1-3; Ps 144 (145), 8-9, 15-16, 17-18; Rom 8, 35.37-39
To understand
Manger
Saddened by the death of John the Baptist, hoping for a little time for himself “away” from the crowds, Jesus is “seized with compassion” towards all those who await him. The disciples were wondering how to feed so many people and, as if it were self-evident, Jesus said to them: “Feed them yourselves!” » To the earthiness of his friends, he opposes the imperative of the mission, wanting to help them move from the physiological need to eat to the spiritual quest for his Word, his love. True food cannot be bought, it is offered by Jesus himself who came to satisfy all men.
There follows a beautiful catechesis on the Eucharist, food par excellence: Jesus takes the loaves and fish, blesses, breaks, and gives in abundance, freely and to all. He fulfills the promise of the prophet Isaiah (first reading), he will call himself “Bread of life”. But he wants to need disciples offering the little they have: these are the little things of love and brotherhood that he multiplies and distributes to the ends of the world.
Meditate
Give us today…
Hunger remains a shameful reality in today’s world where the Earth’s resources should be equitably shared. We do not have the right to ignore the expectations of the poorest, “we must not run the risk of leaving a person abandoned to their fate, without what is essential to live with dignity” (Leo
The Gospel speaks of the other hunger, hunger and thirst for true life of which the Lord is the source. And he offers it to all men in the Eucharist. But only those who were hungry can know satiety. Only hearts open to his Word can welcome the One who gives himself. So, what is my real hunger?
At each Mass, Eucharistic communion is preceded by the prayer of the Our Father which makes us ask God for our daily bread, our vital necessities. It is not about “my” but “our” bread, because the real miracle accomplished by Jesus that day is not so much the multiplication carried out as the sharing that is done: give what you have and I will perform a miracle, he seems to be telling us. Jesus himself, by multiplying this offered bread, anticipated the offering of his person in the Eucharistic bread.
Believers know that this bread also refers to the presence of the Holy Spirit throughout the days. Be spiritually hungry; nourish oneself through prayer, meditation on the Word, the sacraments; sharing our resources or our time with the poor and the excluded: this is what opens before us, when we have acquired a taste for sitting at table with the Lord.
Pray
O God, you who feed the crowds, it is the world, Lord, that you fill when you make the seas, the mountains, the plains and the valleys, the springs and the light of day spring forth in your hands.
These are the people that you assist when you guide them with your Word, for greater justice and fraternity.
These are the souls that you feed when, throughout the world, communities celebrate you and share the bread of your Eucharist. Finally, it is the world that you fertilize when you give birth in the hearts of young people to love, the joy of living, the desire for a greater future and the praise that gives you thanks.
