Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop

Mark 8:1-10

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, grant me a deeper desire to encounter you in every circumstance of my life and recognize the gifts you offer me.

Encountering Christ:

1. The Heart of Jesus: Once again Jesus was in Gentile territory. He was moved with pity for more than the crowd’s physical needs. Perhaps he saw that they have come a long way—through all of history. He knew how far they had strayed from their belief in the one true God, but where there is longing and an expectant heart, he cannot resist. While he would work a miracle to offer them basic sustenance, it served a far greater purpose. He revealed to them his divine power, as well as the heart of the Father who provides for his children. So it is with us. Hungry for grace, we anticipate encountering Jesus in our day. We may sometimes stray, but Jesus knows our longing and feeds us with the Eucharist.

    

2. Two Responses: We see the difference between the responses of Jesus and his disciples to feeding the hungry crowd. His disciples weighed everything pragmatically. “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Like the disciples, we often have a limited scope of vision that doesn’t see beyond what seems humanly possible. Let’s look at Jesus’ response. He made use of whatever was nearby to meet the needs of the crowd. When we feel that an outcome resulting from our efforts will only be proportional to what we put into it, God makes use of our limited human resources, even our weaknesses and faults, and does something wonderful with it for us and those we love.

    

3. Bread from Heaven: Jesus nourishes and strengthens us through our daily bread. This includes all that comes our way in our day: the will of God manifested in the accomplishment of our daily duty, the fruits of our perseverance in prayer, and in a special and unique way, the Eucharist. His Precious Body and Blood is our food for the journey, where deeper friendship is cultivated with the Lord. We discover in the Eucharist that we are not alone, knowing that our Incarnate God comes to dwell in us in a mysterious but real way. And we receive the Eucharist with many other faith-filled people who are also on a journey. Let’s give thanks to God for the gift of himself and the gift of others who walk the path of faith at our side.

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, I come to you desiring to receive your most precious Body, Blood, soul, and divinity. If I cannot receive you sacramentally, I beg you to come into the poor dwelling that I offer you.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will make spiritual communions to unite myself to you and your Mystical Body, the Church.

Jennifer Ristine is a consecrated woman of Regnum Christi who is dedicated to spiritual and faith formation through teaching, conferences, writing, and spiritual direction. While serving in Ancient Magdala she wrote Mary Magdalene: Insights from Ancient Magdala.