Monday, August 4, 2025

 

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.

Monday, August 2, 2021

 Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary time

(Numbers 11:4b-15; Matthew 14:13-21)

It has been noted how Eucharistic today’s gospel is.  Its description of Jesus “looking up to heaven” is part of the prayer of Consecration at Mass although Jesus does not make this gesture in the Last Supper accounts.  There are other connections to the Eucharist as well.

Jesus offers a blessing over the bread.  He is not blessing the bread but, as at Mass, blessing God, the provider of all that is good.  The bread Jesus gives for distribution satisfies the people physically.  Similarly, the bread at mass, transformed into the Body of Christ, meets the spiritual need of the people for grace to do God’s will.  The surplus of food in the gospel suggests the superabundance of Jesus’ ministry.  With the Eucharist as well, there is no limit to the range and the depth of the intentions that are fulfilled.

It is distressing to hear some Catholics speak of enjoying watching Mass on television in their pajamas during Covid.  The experience may have filled some spiritual need, but it could not have sufficed for full participation at Mass.  It probably indicates an eroded appreciation of the Mass in our time.  We must renew our faith in the Eucharist as the pinnacle of our encounter with the Lord.  It provides both context and means of achieving salvation.

Monday, August 3, 2020

Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 28:1-17; Matthew 14:13-21)

Philosopher Robert Solomon understands grief as a continuation of love.  He sees people in grief coming to terms with the fact that they will see their loved ones no more.  Seeking seclusion, the grieving try to understand what the dead meant to them and resolve how they will carry on without them.  Thus, grieving is a process leading to action.  In today’s gospel Jesus is seen retreating so that he might come to terms with the assassination of his mentor, John the Baptist.

Jesus became a disciple of John in the desert.  After his baptism, Jesus went his own way, but the two kept in touch.  Now Jesus has to consider his destiny in light of how John, also an immensely popular prophet, was mistreated.  He is not allowed much time.  The crowd searches him out.  He resolves to throw himself on the mercy of the Father.  He will continue his mission of reconstituting the twelve tribes of Israel.  To show his care for them, he supplies enough bread for all to eat. 

The food that Jesus produces is rightly seen as Eucharistic.  We partake of it when we break bread in Jesus’ name at mass.  It first draws us together in him and then sends us out to others.  We continue Jesus’ labor of bringing the peoples of the world together in one People of God.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Memorial of Saint Alfonso Ligouri, bishop and doctor of the Church

(Jeremiah 28:1-17; Matthew 14:13-21)

Philosopher Robert Solomon understands grief as a continuation of love.  He sees people in grief coming to terms with the fact that they will see their loved ones no more.  Seeking seclusion, the grieving try to understand what the dead meant to them and resolve how they will carry on without them.  Thus, grieving is a process leading to action.  In today’s gospel Jesus is seen retreating so that he might come to terms with the assassination of his mentor, John the Baptist.

Jesus became a disciple of John in the desert.  After his baptism, Jesus went his own way, but the two kept in touch.  Now Jesus has to consider his destiny in light of how John, an equally popular prophet, was mistreated.  He is not allowed much time.  The crowd searches him out.  He resolves to throw himself on the mercy of the Father.  He will continue his mission of reuniting the twelve tribes of Israel.  To show his care for them, he petitions his Father to supply enough for all to eat.  Then he witnesses the Father’s immediate and gratifying response.

The food that Jesus’ intercession produces is rightly seen as Eucharistic.  We partake of it when we break bread in Jesus’ name at mass.  It first draws us together in him and then sends us out to others.  We continue Jesus’ labor of reconciling the peoples of the world.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 28:1-17; Matthew 14:13-21)

An interpretation of today’s gospel has captivated many through the centuries. It sees Jesus’ power in feeding the multitudes not so much providing as persuading. That is, rather than somehow producing food for the thousands who stand before him, he merely convinces those who have brought provisions to share with those who are improvident. The result is everyone being full and walking away as friends. This way of telling the story leaves us edified but complacent. “I know someone who could do that,” we might say.

However, such a reading does not come to terms with the context of the miracle. Why does the story say Jesus takes compassion on the people? What is the significance of their being in a deserted place? Do not the details of seven objects to be distributed and twelve baskets of leftovers have special meaning? These indicators should make us aware that the gospel tradition has something very different in mind than Jesus as a convincing orator. They hint that Jesus, like the Lord in Exodus, cares for his followers and provides for their needs. The meager provisions, like the manna found on the desert floor, are sufficient because he stands behind them. The abundant oversupply indicates that he will feed a nation of followers.

Hearing the story the way that it was told and retold in the first century, we can assure ourselves that Jesus cares for us. Maybe we have just lost a job and feel very uncertain about making house payments in six months. The gospel is assuring us that we need not curse or lose sleep. Jesus takes compassion on us and will provide. We need only recommit ourselves to him.