November 20, 2022
Gospel – January 7, 2020 – 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.
Imagine you were sent by your boss to do a job that you didn’t believe you were capable of doing. And not only were you able but were more successful than you could imagine.
You return home full of joy and accomplishment to tell your boss. He says, “Why don’t we find somewhere quiet so we can talk about it?”
You know a great place so you set out only to find it is overcrowded with people. But your boss won’t leave once you get there.
Welcome to the world of being an apostle of Jesus.
After Jesus has been teaching awhile it’s getting dark and the apostles are hungry. They were thinking picnic with the boss and they get Woodstock without the drugs, music and nudity.
No food for everyone. So, they suggest an adjournment and take it up later. Let the people go and find themselves food. We know there’s 5,000 men. Wonder if women and children are there?
And Jesus says? You feed them.
Remember he told Andrew and his friend to -“Come and see.” Now he tells them – “Go and see.”
This is the life of a disciple. This is the experience of the celebration of the Mass – with the Eucharist. We are invited, formed and sent.
Are we disciples? Are we becoming disciples?
We’ve been invited. Now we must be formed. Then we can be sent.
At least that’s what I heard Him say…
What I Heard Him Say 