Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Tuesday after Epiphany

(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)

Both structure and content make today’s gospel a reflection of the Eucharist.  Structurally, Jesus teaches the people before he feeds them.  So at mass the Word of God is read and commented upon before the Eucharistic meal is prepared. Content-wise, Jesus takes the little bread available and looks up to heaven as the Roman Canon says.  Then he blesses the bread, breaks it, and gives it to his disciples as he will do at the Last Supper.

Both the feeding of the five thousand in today’s gospel and the Last Supper anticipate the Messianic Banquet in heaven.  Alluded to in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah the Messianic Banquet will unite all the saints in a feast of food and a sharing of love.   

Hearing the gospel at the end of the Christmas season, we might remember Christmas dinner.  It could be the one of two weeks ago or perhaps a memorable Christmas of the past.  We were with loved ones, felt at peace with God, and not anxious about anything.  It was heaven come to earth for which we could think of no better way to respond than to give thanks.

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

 

Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious

(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)

Early on, Catholics in the United States recognized the need for parochial schools.  The Church was established here at roughly the same time as universal education and the “Great Awakening.”  The latter was a period of evangelical revival in the nineteenth century.  Being a minority, many Catholic children would have been enfolded into Protestantism had they attended public schools.  Educated in Catholic schools, however, they maintained their faith.  As a result, the Church in America prospered. 

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton began the first free Catholic school in the United States.  She also founded a congregation that staffed many others as well as orphanages.  St. Elizabeth died at a young forty-six years of age.  However, her legacy of inexpensive, quality Catholic education still lives.  It may be said that the American Catholic Church was built on the backs of women like Elizabeth Ann Seton.

In today’s gospel Jesus feeds five thousand with a few loaves of bread and some fish.  This miracle primarily foreshadows the Eucharist.  It can also be seen as representative of Catholic education.  With meager resources but the virtues of many women like Elizabeth Ann Seton, Catholic schools have fed millions of children.  Because of their efforts, generations of children learned about salvation through reception of Jesus Christ in the sacraments.

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

 Memorial of Saint John Neumann, bishop

(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)

The story of Jesus’ feeding of the is told in all four gospels.  It is also proclaimed at mass throughout the year.  The narrative is central to the Catholic understanding of the identity and mission of Jesus.  It shows Jesus as the bread of life who has come to bestow eternal life to believers in him.

In today’s first reading the author says that God shows His love for humans by sending us His Son.  It was not just a “once and for all” event.  Rather God sends His Son to us all the time in the Eucharist.  The Son Jesus Christ does not only become part of us.  Paradoxically, by eating His body and drinking his blood, we become more part of him.  We become more loving and truthful as we secure a place for ourselves in his body, the Church.

Today, especially the Church in the United States remembers St. John Neumann.  He immigrated to the United States from Bohemia.  Once here, he presided over the Eucharist thousands of times as a priest and then as a bishop.  Naturalized a citizen, he became the first saint of the United States.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Tuesday after the Epiphany

(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)

Eating until all “were satisfied” describes many households after the Christmas holidays.  But perhaps eating until all were more than satisfied tells a more accurate story.  Many feel relieved that holiday goodies are finally diminished.  Now they can more easily control their diet.  It may seem that today’s gospel’s feeding story is primarily about food.  But the fare that Jesus provides is really greater.

Jesus sees that the people are in need of instruction.  They are lost like “sheep without a shepherd.”  He spends the day teaching them “many things.”  Much more than giving catechism answers, he teaches them how to live righteously.  That is, he instructs them how to love wisely both God and neighbor.  The story of the feeding comes at the end as a symbolic expression of his lessons.  As Jesus feeds the people with bread, he has nourished their souls with wisdom.

We are sensitive to the hungry.  Fortunately, the numbers of hungry people in the world continue to decrease.  It is said that there are more people obese in the world today than hungry.  Yet people still starve to death.  They do so because of war and other forms of pride and hatred.  We Christians should follow our Lord by teaching care for one another.  The lessons begin at home with our families.  They extend wherever we go and beyond to the people we pray for.

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Memorial of St. John Neumann, bishop

(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)

A fascinating mural covers the wall of the dining room wall in the Dominican priory serving the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.  Where one expects an image of the Last Supper, there is a painting of Jesus feeding the immense crowd in the gospel today.  The substitution suggests that the feeding, depicted in today’s gospel, also represents the beginning of the Eucharist.

Although the poor enjoyed a satisfying meal, this passage does more than illustrate Jesus’ call to feed the hungry.  It reminds its listeners that they have him to share with any and everyone as spiritual nourishment.  He is the bread of life on which the world might grow spiritually.  His words resonate deep in the soul to move beyond self-interest.  The sacrament of his body and blood strengthens the mind and will to make sacrifices for the good of the community.

Heard at the beginning of January, this gospel assures us that Jesus will directly provide for our needs throughout the year.  We will lack neither bread nor desire that makes our lives not just happy but efficacious. 

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Tuesday, Christmas weekday

(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)

The woman was fond of saying, “Where there is a will there is a way.”  She knew that people often find excuses for not doing things that they could do if they set their heart on it.  She herself gave her three children a Catholic education after her husband died in their eleventh year of marriage.  Jesus has a similar idea in mind in today’s gospel.

The disciples are growing desperate.  They see the crowds staying to listen to Jesus as the day wanes.  They must be thinking, “Who will feed this multitude?”  Perhaps they have provisions that they are reluctant to share.  But Jesus shows no such worry.  “Give them some food yourselves,” he says.  He then blesses the bread and fish at hand which turn out to be more than enough.  What happened?  The gospel itself does not mention a multiplication of loaves.  Nor is anything said about each person sharing from his or her personal provision.  The “how” question evidently does not really matter to the evangelist.  What’s important here is Jesus’ trust in his Father to feed the crowd. 

We too sometimes make excuses for not fulfilling responsibilities.  We do not have to give it “the old college try.”  What’s important is sincerely asking God’s assistance.  There are as many ways for God to accomplish His purpose as there are fish in the ocean.  God will provide when we bring our needs to Him.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Christmas weekday

(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)

It has been suggested that St. Luke portrays the infant Jesus as lying in a manger because he will one day give himself as food. As the manger serves as a feeder for farm animals, so it holds he who becomes the "Bread of Life" for his followers. The evangelist likely had more in mind than the Eucharist in relating the incident of the manger, but the observation does provide ample food for thought.

In any case, today’s Christmas season gospel relates Jesus feeding the mass of people with the meager offering of five loaves and two fish. The scene, narrated by each of the four evangelists, anticipates Jesus’ feeding his disciples with his body and blood at their farewell meal. The Father sent him precisely to demonstrate His immense love. Could any action be more significant than allowing oneself to be chewed up so that he may nourish his partakers?

We, of course, participate in the same agape feast. Through the Church Jesus’ offering is extended to us so that we might have the strength to follow in his ways.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Memorial of St. John Neumann, bishop

(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)

On the dining room wall of the Dominican priory serving the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome is painted a curious mural. Where one expects an image of the Last Supper, there is a painting of Jesus feeding the immense crowd in the gospel today. The substitution indicates that this feeding also represents the beginning of the Eucharist.

Although the people enjoyed a satisfying meal, we should interpret this gospel passage as more than illustrating Jesus’ call to feed the hungry. He is also telling us that we have him to share with any and everyone as spiritual nourishment. As the Gospel of John states, Jesus is the bread of life on which the world might feed perpetually. His words resonate deep in our souls providing meaning to see us through every situation that arises. The sacrament of his body and blood engages us in stronger relations with God and neighbors to effect positive change in our communities.

The presentation of Jesus feeding the masses at the beginning of the year assures us that Jesus will directly provide for our spiritual needs in the future. This is not to say that he is indifferent to material needs. Indeed, it shows that Jesus, better than any social scientist, knows how people work wonders when their hearts and minds are lifted to the challenge.