Archive for August 2, 2014

August 3rd 2014 – Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: August 2, 2014 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn

Food in Due Season

Readings:
Isaiah 55:1-3
Psalm 145:8-9, 15-18
Romans 8:35,37-39
Matthew 14:13-21

In Jesus and the Church, Isaiah’s promises in today’s First Reading are fulfilled. All who are thirsty come to the living waters of baptism (see John 4:14). The hungry delight in rich fare – given bread to eat and wine to drink at the Eucharistic table.

This is the point, too, of today’s Gospel. The story of Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 brims with allusions to the Old Testament. Jesus is portrayed as a David-like shepherd who leads His flock to lie down on green grass as He spreads the table of the Messiah’s banquet before them (see Psalm 23).

Jesus is shown as a new Moses, who likewise feeds vast crowds in a deserted place. Finally, Jesus is shown doing what the prophet Elisha did – satisfying the hunger of the crowd with a few loaves and having some left over (see 2 Kings 4:42-44).

Matthew also wants us to see the feeding of the 5,000 as a sign of the Eucharist. Notice that Jesus performs the same actions in the same sequence as at the Last Supper – He takes bread, says a blessing, breaks it, and gives it (see Matthew 26:26).

Jesus instructed His apostles to celebrate the Eucharist in memory of Him. And the ministry of the Twelve is subtly stressed in today’s account. Before He performs the miracle, Jesus instructs the Twelve to give the crowd “some food yourselves.” Indeed, the apostles themselves distribute the bread blessed by Jesus (see Matthew 15:36).

And the leftovers are enough to fill precisely 12 baskets – corresponding to each of the apostles, the pillars of the Church (see Galatians 2:9; Revelation 21:14).

In the Church, as we sing in today’s Psalm, God gives us food in due season, opens His hands and satisfies the desires of every living thing. Now, as Paul reminds us in today’s Epistle, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

 

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 2, 2014 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We are drawn to the truth for it is life giving and freeing. The same way we are drawn to people who tell the truth so long as the truth is not about us or our way of lives. Why is that? Why do we shy away? Why is the truth about us so difficult to accept? Is it possible that it is sin that blinds us? That our relationship with the Holy Trinity is left wanting? We are lukewarm?

We build altars and sanctuaries and make plans for worship but do we actually go? Do we have God our Father in our minds when we pray, or are our prayers only about us, our family and our friends? Do we truly want our heavenly Father in our lives or just the idea of Him? Do we kill the spirit of those sent by Him to speak to our hearts?

Jesus my Lord help me to always embrace truth in my life; for it is a truth of Your love for me. A truth which will lead me home to You. Amen

FIRST READING
Jeremiah 26:11–16, 24

GOSPEL
Matthew 14:1–12

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”

Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.