Daily Gospel III: Mt 14: 13-21

I had a feeling today would be my Daily Gospel day...God would definitely have worked it out that way. I really want to share the reflection from Papa BXVI in my daily email, and then I might give some of my thoughts...But his words are gold :-)

Pope Benedict XVI
Sacramentum caritatis, 88 (©Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

"You yourselves, give them something to eat"

"The bread I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world" (Jn 6,51). In these words the Lord reveals the true meaning of the gift of his life for all people. These words also reveal his deep compassion for every man and woman. The Gospels frequently speak of Jesus' feelings towards others, especially the suffering and sinners. Through a profoundly human sensibility he expresses God's saving will for all people that they may have true life.

Each celebration of the Eucharist makes sacramentally present the gift that the crucified Lord made of his life, for us and for the whole world. In the Eucharist Jesus also makes us witnesses of God's compassion towards all our brothers and sisters. The Eucharistic mystery thus gives rise to a service of charity towards neighbor, which "consists in the very fact that, in God and with God, I love even the person whom I do not like or even know. This can only take place on the basis of an intimate encounter with God, an encounter which has become a communion of will, affecting even my feelings. Then I learn to look on this other person not simply with my eyes and my feelings, but from the perspective of Jesus Christ." In all those I meet, I recognize brothers or sisters for whom the Lord gave his life, loving them "to the end" (Jn 13,1).

Our communities, when they celebrate the Eucharist, must become ever more conscious that the sacrifice of Christ is for all, and that the Eucharist thus compels all who believe in him to become "bread that is broken" for others, and to work for the building of a more just and fraternal world. Keeping in mind the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, we need to realize that Christ continues today to exhort his disciples to become personally engaged: "You yourselves, give them something to eat". Each of us is truly called, together with Jesus, to be bread broken for the life of the world.

When I first heard the Gospel this morning, my mind cued in on the first few lines. Jesus was sad to learn the news of John's death, to the point that He needed to get away and be by Himself (Jesus is SO like us). But, then, He saw the crowds wanting to be with Him and was moved to pity. Pity because of their hunger...because they hungered for material, passing things. Pity for them because He knew their condition and had come to redeem them. Even though He knew they needed more than the material, that was His starting place. He fulfilled their physical needs abundantly. He cured the sick and then fed them. He did this in a time of sorrow for Himself. Jesus is so others-centered here! Even as He grieved He recognized and fulfilled the needs for others. The Holy Father so beautifully points out, therefore, that Christ calls us to be engaged in the world, with each other..."give them some food yourselves." May we strive to be "food" for all we interact with!