Ministry of Christian Formation July 1, 2012 13th Sunday in Ordi

CATHOLIC CONVERSATIONS ON THE SCRIPTURESArchdiocese of Miami - Ministry of Christian FormationJuly 22, 2012 16 th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)Gospel readingA reading from the holy Gospel accordingto Mark 6:30-34 [To be read aloud]The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them,“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going ingreat numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves toa deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there onfoot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vastcrowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and hebegan to teach them many things.Brief commentary:Today’s text prepares the readers for the first miracle of the multiplication of the bread.Although the Twelve were tired and needed time alone with Jesus, he responds first to the greater needof the crowd. He felt compassion toward them because “they were like sheep without a shepherd.”This is probably a reference to the Good Shepherd of Ezekiel 34:15. Jesus satisfied their spiritualhunger by teaching them many things, thus gradually becoming the shepherd of a new Israel, the newpeople of God.As the chapter continues, Mark will show his readers that Jesus could satisfy both the spiritualand the physical needs of the crowd. He will provide food for the people just as God had provided“manna” for the Israelites as they wandered in the desert.Today’s reading offers three significant messages:●●●Jesus revealed the awesome compassion and providence of God.We, the Church, are like this crowd, always seeking and finding Jesus Christ.Jesus showed the qualities that anyone in a position of leadership must have.For our shared or personal reflection:After a brief pause for silent reflection share your answers, ideas or feelings.1. How do I respond when my children, family and friends interrupt my rest? What do I feel towardthem?2. When I see someone in need, do I come out of my shell to reach out to them? Explain.Suggested readings: Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 547-549; 1397.

CATHOLIC CONVERSATIONS ON THE SCRIPTURESArchdiocese of Miami - Ministry of Christian FormationJuly 29, 2012 17 th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)Gospel readingA reading from the holy Gospelaccording to John 6:1-15 [To be read aloud]Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performingon the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast ofPassover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip,“Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what hewas going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for eachof them to have a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boyhere who has five barley loaves* and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have thepeople recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand innumber. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also asmuch of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments leftover, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragmentsfrom the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done,they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they weregoing to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.*The food of the poorBrief commentary:The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle of Jesus that is recounted in all four gospels. Themain reason could be that it was seen as the anticipation of the Last Supper and of the consequentChurch’s celebration of the Eucharist. The story is filled with images that we now associate with theEucharistic banquet: “Jesus took the loaves of bread,” “gave thanks”, and “distributed them.” Thisritual reminds us of the daily bread we ask for when we pray the Our Father.The twelve baskets of leftovers may point to the banquet of the Messiah at the final coming of thekingdom. This miracle also looks backward to the feeding of Israel with manna in the desert at the timeof the Exodus (Ex 16), a miracle that according to some Jewish beliefs would be repeated in themessianic age (2 Baruch 29:8).Today’s reading offers three significant messages:● The Jewish belief in a God who always provided for his people is reflected in this miracle.The difference is that Jesus did not let the disciples just watch. He made them participate.● The bread that is shared in solidarity always gets multiplied by the power of God.● God never abandons those who share from their poverty to nourish others.For our shared or personal reflection:After a brief pause for silent reflection share your answers, ideas or feelings1. Do I share what I have with the hungry?2. Am I helping to satisfy the deeper spiritual hunger and thirst that haunts people today?Suggested readings: Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 1328-1329; 1333-1344; 1397; 1402-06.