Sunday, August 2, 2020 – Mt 14:13-21 – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
I ask this question to reflect upon, “How can you and I dig deeper in our calling to continue the ministry of Jesus here on this earth and to feed the multitude as Jesus shows us?”
We face many challenges in life, whether it is in the world around us, in our families, or personal challenges. It can weigh on us. It can bring us down and at times be sad or depressing. I think we can agree that in this world we all want a better today. We all want a better tomorrow.
Today’s readings remind us of the eternal hope we have, today and tomorrow, because of our Lord. The letter of Saint Paul to the Romans that we just heard became one of my favorite pieces of Scripture at a moment of deep sadness in my life. I was in my final year of seminary and a brother seminarian, that had become a good friend in my life, died suddenly when his heart collapsed. That night, another seminarian sent me these words from Saint Paul that lifted me up and reminded me of the strong presence of Christ in my life. Saint Paul says, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Nothing. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yes, there are times when challenges in our lives might test our faith. Times when we can’t understand why something happens. Or times we turn from our Lord when we sin. But, no matter what, nothing will separate us from the love of Christ as long as we remain open to him being in our lives and trying to live out our calling as disciples.
Today’s Gospel is a strong affirmation that Jesus Christ came into this world to be among us in our humanity, yet to also be with us as the divinity of God Himself. We heard in today’s Gospel the moment when Jesus heard of the death of his cousin John the Baptist, the prophet his Father sent to prepare the way for Jesus’ ministry. When Jesus heard of the death of John, Jesus withdrew to a deserted place to take time to mourn. To do exactly what you and I would want to do in that moment of sadness. But the crowds followed him to the deserted place. You can almost feel how Jesus must have felt wanting to withdraw. He very well might have wanted to tell them to go away. Yet, he knew he was called for a purpose in that moment. He was called for a purpose as his Father’s plan was unfolding in his life. Jesus knew he had to move forward because what was happening was exactly what John the Baptist had prepared the way to begin – to allow the Son of God to be known to the world in his flesh and divinity.
We see in the midst of Jesus’ sorrow, he cured the sick, he preached to the crowd, and he fed the mulititude. He dug deeper within himself to move forward carrying out his Father’s plan. So, I return to the question, “How can you and I dig deeper in our calling to continue the ministry of Jesus here on this earth and to feed the multitude as Jesus shows us?”
How can we feed the multitude? How can we give as Christ asks us to do? I want to challenge you and me to give in some way each day this week starting today. It can be something as simple as giving an encouraging word to someone you know that needs encouragement, or a phone call to someone you have been needing to call but have been putting it off, or saying a prayer for someone you know that needs one, or telling someone that you appreciate them in your life. Or do a charitable act to help someone in need, which could be donating to our Saint Vicent de Paul ministry to help us help people in our community, which can be monetary or gift cards to our local grocery stores. Or donating to an area food pantry or another cause dear to your heart.
If we truly profess and believe in our faith, then we must live it outside the doors of this Church. You and I can dig deeper in our calling to continue the ministry of Jesus here on this earth and to feed the multitude as Jesus shows us. Let us share the precious gift of Christ’s love to others, in word and deed, today and every day. Amen.