The gospel for Monday of the 18th week in ordinary time is taken from Matthew 14 to the 21st verse. 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 crowd so they can go to the villages to 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. And 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, 12 wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about 5,000 men, not counting women and children. We see in this gospel an aspect of Jesus, it is so attractive. He’s just learned of the death of his cousin. He wants to go to a private place, and then instead when he gets there, it’s not private.

All these people are there, and the first thing he thinks about is their needs, not his need. And so he’s moved to cure them. But then he uses this moment, I think, in a very powerful way to teach us all about how his ministry is going to be continued in us. We are all disciples. We are all called to feed and nurture one another. And what is so interesting about this is the thing that we want to have, the love that we need to have for one another is going to be a gift to us.

He will empower us to love. He will empower us to serve, and everyone will be satisfied. Please take a few moments to reflect upon the thoughts that I’ve offered in these reflections. And then I will offer a closing prayer. Foreign closing prayer. Father, awaken us to the power that you have shared with us.

We tend to turn to ourselves and ask ourselves to produce the things that we need. You are there for that purpose. Bless us with confidence and dependency on everything that you promise. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.