They all ate as much as they wanted

 The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), Year C - Thursday 16th June 2022

Gospel Luke 9: 11–17

Jesus made the crowds welcome and talked to them about the kingdom of God; and he cured those who were in need of healing.

It was late afternoon when the Twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the people away, and they can go to the villages and farms round about to find lodging and food; for we are in a lonely place here.’ He replied, ‘Give them something to eat yourselves.’

But they said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we are to go ourselves and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five thousand men. But he said to his disciples, ‘Get them to sit down in parties of about fifty.’ They did so and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven, and said the blessing over them; then he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute among the crowd. They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps remaining were collected they filled twelve baskets.

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

As I prepare to pray, I take the time to relax my body and mind. I breathe in the goodness of God, aware of being in his presence. I ask him to be with me, to pray within me as I ponder his word.

When I am ready I slowly read the text.

I may wish to visualise the scene. I look at Jesus in this lonely place.

How does he welcome the crowds? What does he do?

And how do the disciples react?

They are completely baffled when told to feed the people themselves. What would my reaction have been? Would I have been listening to Jesus or worrying about the next problem?

Jesus, in getting his disciples to sit the people in groups and then distribute the food, is preparing them for their forthcoming ministry. What is he teaching me?

I ponder his actions foreshadowing another evening meal.

I observe his abundant generosity.

I turn to the Lord in gratitude for his gift of the Eucharist. I may wish to offer him my small contribution so that he may use it as he wills.

I end my prayer with a ‘Glory be ...’

Click here to read or listen to a One-Minute Homily on this Sunday's Gospel, from The Jesuit Post