Memorial of Saint John Vianney, priest
(Numbers
11:4b-15; Matthew 14:13-21)
Today’s
gospel underscores both the humanity and the divinity of Jesus. More poignantly, it anticipates the
establishment of the Eucharist as food for the journey.
Jesus, like
most humans would be, is appalled by the news of John’s cruel murder. The latter served as Jesus’ mentor. He was a just man who in no way deserved such
a horrible death. Although burdened with
grief, Jesus attends to the needs of the people who seek his help. When his disciples suggest that he send the
people away to find food, he multiplies the bread available so that the
disciples can feed the people themselves.
Jesus’ motions
are typically Eucharistic. He takes the five
loaves at hand, looks to heaven, blesses and breaks bread, and gives the
resulting plethora to his disciples for distribution. We rightly understand the story as anticipating
the Eucharist. At Mass Jesus through the words and actions of the priest
consecrates bread and wine to be distributed by the priest to us at the altar. The Eucharistic food will allow us to travel
securely through life to our heavenly homeland.
