Have You Eaten?

After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased. Jesus therefore went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand. When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes, and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to try him; for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him: There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves, and two fishes; but what are these among so many? Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten. Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet, that is to come into the world. Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force, and make him king, fled again into the mountain himself alone.
John 6:1-15 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father it is a miracle of great magnitude that we read about. How the loaves and fishes a young boy had turned out to feed the many that were present. Even if people carried some with them to tide them over on their travels, food was passed to all who were there. And to think they collected twelve baskets over and above what was eaten. Nearly impossible, since they stated that it was mostly bread fragments that were collected. The miracle of bread! Jesus throughout his ministry keeps pointing out to us the miracle of the Eucharist, the bread from heaven, his very self. He is truly the Son of God, no mere prophet but the genuine Son of the Most High God. It is in this very miracle that we see Jesus in our daily bread that we receive at Mass. It is no accident that we have such a glorious treasure. Have you eaten of the bread that came down from heaven to feed a multitude? Don't delay, but make time to dine with Jesus where his presence is always.

God's Bread

And Jesus going out saw a great multitude: and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him, saying: This is a desert place, and the hour is now past: Send them away, that going into the next villages and towns, they may buy themselves meat to eat. And he answering said to them: Give you them to eat. And they said to him: Let us go and buy bread for two hundred pence, and we will give them to eat. And he saith to them: How many loaves have you? go and see. And when they knew, they say: Five, and two fishes And he commanded them that they should make them all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves, and the two fishes: looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave to his disciples to set before them: and the two fishes he divided among them all. And they all did eat, and had their fill. And they took up the leavings, twelve full baskets of fragments, and of the fishes. And they that did eat, were five thousand men.
Mark 6:34-44 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father your Son did a great thing for the many people who came to him to hear what he had to say and to be healed of their infirmities. But he also had the grace to know that they needed food to keep up their strength. It is amazing that the disciples thought about sending the people off to find their own food. And to top it off they thought about the cost. But dear Father your Son gave us something very special, proof that you would take care of their needs. Jesus prayed over the bread and fish and look what was done for those who were there. They had food to eat, mind you without cost or them having to leave. Jesus took care of them. From his example we feed the many who come to eat at the Liturgy of the Eucharist. But in our own lives we too are also like the disciples, we often send people on their way to some other place to eat and we tend to think about what it would cost us to feed others. Pretty sad that we often exclude others because they don't fit in or can't do for themselves so we often look away. But there is hope for those who believe, because God takes care of us even when those who can often look away.

Loaves and Fish

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent


And when Jesus had passed away from thence, he came nigh the sea of Galilee. And going up into a mountain, he sat there. And there came to him great multitudes, having with them the dumb, the blind, the lame, the maimed, and many others: and they cast them down at his feet, and he healed them: So that the multitudes marvelled seeing the dumb speak, the lame walk, and the blind see: and they glorified the God of Israel. And Jesus called together his disciples, and said: I have compassion on the multitudes, because they continue with me now three days, and have not what to eat, and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. And the disciples say unto him: Whence then should we have so many loaves in the desert, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus said to them: How many loaves have you? But they said: Seven, and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down upon the ground.
And taking the seven loaves and the fishes, and giving thanks, he brake, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the people. And they did all eat, and had their fill. And they took up seven baskets full, of what remained of the fragments
Matthew 15:29-37 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father how many in the time of this reading had been cured and still witnessed more of your Sons healing grace. Jesus gave us much to ponder on this day. He fed many also so they would have strength after going without for a few days. I think about how much we have and fill our bellies to overflowing and there are many who would eat dirt just to stop the pains of hunger. Jesus out of pity performed a beautiful miracle for those who came to him, to listen to His Words, to be healed from their problems. We go to Mass and do the same, we hear His Word and He feeds us, but we don't have the same pity for those who have no food. Jesus not only fed them spiritual food but he fed them food to live on. Can I do no less when another is without and offer them food. Can I give them the faith I have when I see them hunger for God too. Do I extend the love in my heart and give them love in return when they look downtrodden and filthy. How may I serve them dear Father with love as you love me. May I give more of myself to those who are less fortunate and give without seeking anything in return from you. Amen

Friday of the Second Week of Easter

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
“Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little.”
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?”
Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
“Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted.”
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
John 6:1-15

Prayer

Dear Father thank you for your son Jesus and the miracle of the loaves and fishes. It is one of the early breaking of the breads to feed us, a precursor to the Eucharist where he nourishes our souls as well as our bodies. May our encounter with your son given us in the Eucharist bring us ever closer to you. Impossible as it seems to feed so very many, yet Jesus does and when we believe with faith and love we will see too in our lives the miracle given us, life. Let us nourish our hearts with the manna from heaven to restore us, heart, mind, body, and soul. Amen

Friday in the Octave of Easter

Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something.”
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat,
for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.
John 21:1-14

Prayer

Dear Father this is the third time your son appeared to the disciples to reveal his divinity. If they harbored some disbelief while Jesus was alive, then they are witnessing his truth. May we too conquer our own disbelief in the presence of the breaking of the bread and see with eyes of faith the Risen Lord in all his glory. Amen