First reading Isaiah 55:1-3
Come and eat
Thus says the Lord:
Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty;
though you have no money, come!
Buy corn without money, and eat,
and, at no cost, wine and milk.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
your wages on what fails to satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and you will have good things to eat
and rich food to enjoy.
Pay attention, come to me;
listen, and your soul will live.
With you I will make an everlasting covenant
out of the favours promised to David.
Responsorial Psalm 144(145):8-9,15-18
Second reading Romans 8:35,37-39
No created thing can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ
Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us.
For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gospel Matthew 14:13-21
The feeding of the five thousand
When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the people 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.
When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place, and the 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.’ ‘Bring them here to me’ he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps remaining; twelve baskets full. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children.
______________________________________________
Come to God, who never disappoints
In today’s first reading, the prophet Isaiah invites us, saying, “Come to the water, all you who are thirsty; even if you have no money, come!” This invitation is for everyone who feels empty and tired. We can approach God as we are, praying honestly and bringing our hunger to Him, rather than seeking fulfilment in what the world offers. Today, in this time of prayer, let us identify the “thirst” that we keep trying to satisfy on our own and listen to God as He invites us to come to Him and receive what we truly need.
In the gospel, Jesus takes the small offering of five loaves and two fish, looks up to heaven, blesses, breaks and gives it to the crowds, until they are all fed, with baskets of leftovers to spare. This shows us that the generous heart of God the Father is at work through the Son. When we place our “little”, whether it be time, resources, love or talents, into God’s hands, He multiplies it for our good and the good of others. Our trust in Him grows as we remember His past faithfulness, and we choose to rely on His love, which will never let us down.
Reflective question:
What are my “five loaves and two fish” today that I can place in Jesus’ hands?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
