Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Today is the Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. She was a Convert to Roman Catholicism; foundress of the American Sisters of Charity, which was the first sisterhood native to the United States; a wife, mother, widow, sole parent, foundress, educator, social minister, and spiritual leader, Elizabeth Bayley Seton was the first person born in the United States to become a canonized saint.

“They all ate and were satisfied.”

Gospel Reading: Mark 6:34-44

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.” So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish. Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Jesus comes ashore to find a large crowd of people which he compares to a flock of sheep without a shepherd. It says, “his heart was moved with pity for them” Jesus greets the large crowd and begins to teach them and shepherd them. The crowd is fed by the Word of God. They were hungry and he fed them spiritually. Their souls were empty and misguided and Jesus had compassion on them. Jesus fed the desire of their hearts with his love. At the end of his teaching, Jesus commanded his disciples to feed the crowd, but they only had five loaves and two fish. Jesus took the bread and looked upon heaven, blessed the bread and broke it and he fed the crowds physically. The bread which fed and satisfied the 5,000 was the manna from heaven. This same bread of life that fed the Israelites as they fled Egypt now fed the 5,000. Not only did it feed the 5,000, but there are 12 baskets left over after everyone has been satisfied.

This miracle is a foreshadowing of the Pascal or Eucharistic Supper we celebrate at Mass. The bread of life, Christ himself, is what we need to satisfy our hunger. The Eucharist is the bread of life which feeds our soul. Without the Eucharist, we are not fed; we are sheep without a shepherd. In this Gospel reading, we learn that we are nourished by both the Word of God and the Eucharist; the same things we are fed at Mass. The Eucharist is the bread of life which satisfies our deepest hunger; the hunger of our heart and soul. When God gives the bread, he gives abundantly. His gives more than we can eat. He gives until we are satisfied. God always gives in surplus. He gives us enough that we can share with others. God’s graces fill our souls to overflowing capacity. We are to share these blessing with others. When the crowd was done eating, they had 12 baskets left over. These 12 baskets did not go to waste, they fed more people. This is the same bread of life which we consume during the Eucharist. The Eucharist is eternally abundant and overfilling. It never ends. No matter how many Masses are celebrated, there is an abundant supply of the host.

We too are like the crowd who awaited Christ on the shore. We are like sheep without a shepherd lacking guidance and direction. The Gospel, the Word of God, nourishes us and satisfies us. We are brought together to be one great herd; one in the Body of Christ. God takes each of us and forms us into his greatness. Together we become the Body of Christ. Together, we are joined through the Eucharistic bread. Together, we are called to share the bread of life with others. We should call out to others and let them know of the joy and peace we encounter in the Eucharistic Supper. Invite someone to Mass this weekend. Let them too experience the abundance of Christ in the Gospels and in the Eucharist. Even if they are not able to receive the Eucharist, have them come forward to the table to blessed by the Eucharistic Ministers. All our brothers and sisters are welcome to the altar of God.

A Simple Prayer Jesus,

You are the Bread of Life.

You satisfy my every need with abundance.

May I learn to share this abundant love with others

So they too can share in the Eucharistic Supper.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon