Daily Reflection – May 29, 2016
Sunday 29 May 2016
First Reading:
Genesis 14:18-20
Responsorial Psalm:
You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek
Psalm 109(110):1-4
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:11-17
Today’s Feast: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Gospel Reading:
Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God,
and he healed those who needed to be cured.
As the day was drawing to a close,
the Twelve approached him and said,
“Dismiss the crowd
so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms
and find lodging and provisions;
for we are in a deserted place here.”
He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.”
They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have,
unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.”
Now the men there numbered about five thousand.
Then he said to his disciples,
“Have them sit down in groups of about fifty.”
They did so and made them all sit down.
Then taking the five loaves and the two fish,
and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing over them, broke them,
and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And when the leftover fragments were picked up,
they filled twelve wicker baskets.
Reflection:
They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets. (Luke 9:17)
People will stand in line for hours to see a blockbuster movie or to get into a sporting event. But would you risk your life to hear a sermon?
Imagine this scene of more than five thousand people in a deserted place. They had no food or shelter, yet they would not make the journey to the nearest town unless Jesus dismissed them. They were so happy to be with him, even if it meant going hungry for a day!
You can understand why the apostles were concerned and approached Jesus for help. Most important, you can understand the eager excitement of the people. They were as spiritually empty as their stomachs were physically empty, and they were receiving so much spiritual food that they wanted to stay and take in all that Jesus had to say.
On this feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, let’s remember the excitement of those hungry souls and the way that Jesus fed them, both spiritually and physically. Most important, let’s saver that last little detail about the twelve baskets of bread that were left over. Jesus was perfectly capable of giving the people the exact amount of food that they needed, but he chose to give them far, far more. What a powerful image of Jesus’ abundant love and mercy!
When we come to the Lord at Mass with nothing but our empty baskets, he won’t disappoint us. He won’t leave us hungry. His Living Bread doesn’t just meet our needs; it overflows!
Today, recall the excitement of the crowd, and spend some time considering the overwhelming abundance of love that God is offering you through the Body and Blood of Christ. Know that any spiritual hunger that you experience can be filled abundantly through Christ.
“Lord, I thank you for meeting me in that deserted place, where I sit with my empty basket, ready for you to fill with your overflowing grace and mercy.”
