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The hope that is left after all your hopes are gone -- that is pure hope, rooted in the heart.
- David Steindl-Rast, Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer
(What is your deepest
hope?)
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Jer 28:1-17; Ps 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102
Mt
14:13-21
When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast
crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late;
dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages
and buy food for themselves.”
He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;
give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to
me,”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over—
twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men,
not counting women and
children.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
A large crowd, a deserted place, and a shortage of food — Jesus' disciples recognize that a problem is developing. In fact, they have even worked out a reasonable solution (Mt 14:15). They want Jesus to fix the problem according to their plan. But Jesus has a different approach. He says, "Give them something to eat yourselves" (Mt 14:16). Jesus wants His disciples to fix the problem according to His plan.
Jesus' plan was to multiply loaves and fish to feed the hungry crowd. Before He would stretch the food, however, He wanted to stretch His disciples (see Jn 6:6). Jesus increases faith by stretching His followers to be larger vessels able to contain more faith. However, you don't have to wait for a problem to develop before your faith is increased. You can work with Jesus in advance by:
- repenting of sins so that you may be a larger, "distinguished vessel" (2 Tm 2:21),
- daily reading of "that gracious word of His which can enlarge you" (Acts 20:32), and
- frequent reception of the Eucharist.
When Mary said "Yes" to God's plan, her womb was stretched as the Infant Jesus grew within her. Even more, her subsequent daily life with Jesus constantly stretched her. As we receive Jesus in reconciliation, word, and Eucharist, we carry His body within us, and He will stretch us. Open yourself to Jesus, and He will multiply your faith.
Prayer: Jesus, stretch me any way You choose so that I may increase in faith (see Lk 17:5).
Promise: "All those present ate their fill. The fragments remaining, when gathered up, filled twelve baskets." —Mt 14:20
mycatholic.com
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Theological Gems from Emile Merch's Theology of the Mystical Body - selected by Jim and Tyra Arraj
Book III: Christ
Chapter 11: Nature of the Redemption
295. In ransoming His creatures, the Redeemer makes them His members. Men receive this redemption, not as a gift coming from another, but as the grace incorporating them into that other.
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