Monday of 18th Week, uneven numbered year
“When Jesus received the news, he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves.But the crowds heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd ; and he took pity on them and healed their sick.”
The speech about the Bread of Life begins by a miracle where Jesus performs it using five loaves and two fish. It is a sign of God’s Power, to have us turn to Him in all confidence. He is the master of natural law, a sign that Jesus has power over all this. Jesus had learned of John the Baptist’s martyrdom, how he had been a victim of men’s violence. This passage announces Easter, Jesus wants to take us further towards Life.He has this way of looking at the huge crowd following him that is full of compassion . They follow him because of the great signs he accomplished.He looks at these crowds turned towards Him because they recognise He comes from God.They are all touched by Jesus, but Jesus is touched by them. This crowd is hungry, and in the heat of the day, bring the sick to Him. It is a suffering people on the move. Jesus takes pity on the crowd, ’He is touched in the depths of his soul touched by, love and mercy. He already wants to invite his disciples to co operate with him in this work of love that is salvation.
“When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, ’This is a lonely place and time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, ’There is no need for them to go : give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they answered, ’All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’ So he said, ’Bring them to me.’ He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing; and breaking the loaves he handed them to the disciples, who gave them to the crowd.“Jesus said’ have them sit down.’ There was a lot of grass in that place. So they sat down ; there were about five thousand men. The finality of the miracles Jesus performs is to manifest God’s love for mankind. He works healings, bringing the dead back to life, he nourishes the crowd. Jesus comes to mankind’s help , restoring their health, dignity and life. Jesus’ miracles bear witness to God’s benevolence towards mankind. In this way the miracle is a sign of the power of Jesus and the manifestation of his Love for mankind. God is overflowing with Love, Life and Light for all! Each had been able to eat enough, being attentive to others. We are indeed made in order to enter into this overflowing abundance so as to give generously.”They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps left over, twelve baskets full. Now about five thousand men had eaten, to say nothing of women and children."
Jesus comes and responds to our expectations, he comes to answer the hope of all. Jesus’ miracles manifest his desire to make us happy, but above all invite us to convert, to take a leap forward and to go back to the source of all happiness. Jesus desires that we desire the Sovereign Good, God Himself, who alone can fill our desire to love and to be loved. Jesus has shown us the way :’ My nourishment is to do my father’s Will.’ The Life he gives us is eternal life , the healing he obtains for us is Eternal Salvation and the Bread with which he nourishes us is Himself. Only if we offer ourselves up spiritually and entirely will this bread nourish us. We can enter into the Tenderness of God and follow this call that we have received. God is the master of the impossible but he wants mankind to co operate in patience and gentleness in God’s work! Through our work we are at the service of our brothers, a humanity that places all its powers of intelligence and love at the service of hunger that exists in the world. So God will give everything, with our work He gives an unbelievable overabundance. The Eucharist is announced, it is the marvelous reality of the transformation of the world.