Breaking Open the Word
August 2 - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Introduction
Three weeks ago, we read a later part of this chapter from Isaiah. Both passages are part of the fifth reading during the Easter Vigil. Today’s verses form an invitation to share in the feast that God sets before us. At the Easter Vigil, these words make us think of the eucharistic meal we will share with the newly baptized that night. Today, these words are intended to point us toward the gospel story of the feeding of the multitudes in the wilderness. Both of those meals, however, like this passage, also point toward the ultimate feast. It is God alone who will ultimately satisfy our hunger and thirst. When the kingdom comes in its fullness, even the poor will rejoice and be satisfied.
The second reading comes from Paul’s letter to the Romans. As he comes to the end of chapter eight, Paul concludes with great eloquence. These are a proclamation of the victorious power of God’s love in the lives of believers. Nothing is stronger than God’s love for us. The reading begins with two rhetorical questions. Paul asks if anyone or anything can separate us from Christ’s love, and then he answers the question emphatically. Christians are victorious over all trials and suffering through the power of Christ. The final sentence reaffirms that answer by listing the various powers that were believed to influence human affairs. None of them can separate us from the love of God that was revealed in Christ Jesus.
Gospel Explained
Today we jump ahead in our reading of Matthew's Gospel to Chapter 14. Last week we heard Jesus conclude his discourse with the crowds about the Kingdom of Heaven. In Matthew's narrative, Jesus then leaves the crowds and returns to Nazareth, where he is rejected. Matthew then recounts the story of John the Baptist's arrest and execution at the hands of Herod. Today's Gospel reading begins at this point.
Upon hearing the news of the death of John the Baptist, Jesus seeks to withdraw, but the crowds follow him. Jesus reaches out to them in compassion and heals the sick. At the end of a long day, the disciples encourage Jesus to send the crowds away so that they might find provisions for themselves. Jesus again responds with compassion for the crowd. Jesus tells his disciples to provide food for the crowd. The disciples reply with a report of the meagerness of their own provisions—five loaves and two fish. The result is the very familiar miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Matthew's Gospel tells us that 5,000 men were fed, and this number does not even include the women and children. This could bring the number to 20,000 or more. Matthew de-emphasizes the fish in the story, thus making the eucharist connection more obvious. Matthew also highlights the disciples function as ministers of the meal. This may be a reflection of the development of ministry in Matthew’s local community.
Today's Theme
Today’s Theme: The ultimate banquet
Jesus' blessing brought abundance from the meager provisions of the disciples. In this action, Jesus offers us a sign of the Kingdom of Heaven that he has been teaching about in the parables. A feast results from the smallest of portions—remember the mustard seed and the yeast. In this miracle we witness an example for Christian life and ministry. Even the smallest of offerings can produce abundant results when placed in the service of the Kingdom of Heaven.
We find the story of Jesus' multiplication of the loaves and the fish in each of the four Gospels. In the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, Jesus performs this same miracle on two separate occasions. The story of this miracle is an anticipation of the Eucharist in which we are fed by the abundant grace of God. The importance of the Eucharist has been a defining element of Christian life from the very beginning and this is the ultimate banquet.
Theme in our Life Today
Matthew’s primary interpretation of the today’s miracle differs from John’s. For Matthew, the meal represents a compassion miracle. As with many of Jesus’ other miracles, Jesus saw a need, in this case a hungry crowd, and in his compassion, he provided food. But the meal was not overflowing with riches. Jesus provided a simple peasant’s meal of fish and bread. Twelve baskets of food were left over, but this should be expected. What do we really need in our lives? Are we satisfied with what is given to us or are we always wanting more? Are we focused on the material things of our lives or are we focused on our ultimate banquet. If we put Jesus as the top priority in our lives, our needs and wants seem pretty simple.
Prepare for Sunday
To Prepare for this Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word, consider the following:
1. Recall a time when you felt mournful, threatened or afraid, but the needs of others took priority
2. Think of a time when someone helped you in your time of need
3. Name a time when you helped another who was in material or spiritual need.
4. What are people in your life hungry for?
PRAYER
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, eternal King, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, for you create the fruit of the earth.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, by whose word all things came to be.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, eternal king. You feed the whole world with your goodness, with grace, with loving kindness and with tender mercy. Through your great goodness food has never failed us.
For all this, O Lord our God, we thank you and bless you. Blessed be your name by the mouth of all the living, continually and forever.
Blessed be God!