SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 14:13-21 the Feeding of the Five Thousand.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves. Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.
But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over*—twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand.
JESUS BLESSES THE LOAVES, BROKE THE LOAVES, FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND
REFLECTION
The apostles came to Jesus and asked how are we going to feed this crowd? Kind of weird question to ask of Jesus after seeing all his miracles but anyway they were slow like we are sometimes to trust in Jesus. But they obeyed Jesus when he asked them to bring the little they had. Jesus can work with little. He works with us doesn’t He? I hope we obey Jesus promptly like the apostles did in this case.
How hungry we are for nourishment, spiritual and otherwise! The feeding of 5000 foreshadows Jesus’ gift of the Eucharist, the Bread of Life Jesus’ own body and blood, soul and divinity, that is Life eternal. Seek not things and gods of this earth but seek eternal life and the heavenly kingdom without end.
God knows what we need physically and materially but He wants us to ask for the Spirit that perseveres and inundates us with Divine Life right here on earth. Jesus blessed the loaves, broke the loaves, distributed the loaves so should we in our daily life bless ourselves and others and share with others the gift of divine life shared with us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 14:22-23 the Walking on the Water.
Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night,* he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once, Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I;* do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith,* why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
LORD SAVE ME
REFLECTION
In the beginning of this reading Jesus went off by himself to pray. Do we have that special place to pray, to prepare for the day, to ask assistance in troubled times, to thank God for the blessings of the day.
Jesus seeing his disciples in distress of a threatening storm, walks out on the water again manifesting his almighty power over nature and all things. Jesus is second person of Blessed Trinity and Almighty God!
Jesus tells his disciples, “Take courage it is I!” Jesus here assumes the name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. I AM WHO AM. I am existence itself I Am.
Peter, self-assured and sometimes fool hardy, says Lord if it you, command me to come to you on the water. Now I don’t know if Peter was testing Jesus or not, but Jesus met the challenge and said Come!
So far so good until Peter got distracted by material things like the wind and took his eyes off Jesus. Peter began to sink and cried out, “Lord save me!”
Of course, Jesus pulled Peter up from the depths of despair like He can do for us if we call upon Him. Or will we hear Jesus say, “Oh you of little faith!” I hope not, pray that you will call on Jesus in times of trouble and thank and praise Him for all His blessings.
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 15:21-28 the Canaanite Woman’s Faith.
Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children* and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith!* Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
O WOMAN GREAT IS YOUR FAITH!
REFLECTION
First, some background, the Land of Canaan was promised to the Israelites to be a holy nation that would influence all the pagan nations around them and bring them to the one true God.
God did not choose Israel as His Holy Nation because they were better than anyone else but chose them to teach and form. After all, it took 400 years for them to enter the Promise Land.
God instructed Israel to wipe out all Canaanites living in the land because they have corrupted and perverted God’s truth. God did not want any remnants to remain, knowing how easily the Israelites were influenced by Egypt’s pagan ways.
Throughout the Old Testament the promised Messiah was to gather the lost sheep of Israel. “My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray”… Jerimiah 50:6. Jesus was confirming to the Canaanite woman that He is the long awaited Messiah promise to Israel but still because of the woman’s great faith cures this Gentile’s daughter at that hour. His hour had come again!
Do we push people away those who are different, have different beliefs, look different, like the apostles in this instance or do bear witness and share our faith with everyone. Faith is fragile and a gift. Not everyone has been gifted with the same faith. Pray that your faith may be strengthened and gifted to others. Which do we want to hear from Jesus, “Oh you of little Faith!” or “Oh great is your Faith!”
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 16:13-20 Peter’s Confession about Jesus.*
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi* he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist,* others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood* has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.* Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
YOU ARE THE MESSIAH THE SON OF GOD
REFLECTION
Caesarea Philippi where this scripture takes place is interesting in that it was center of pagan worship at time of Jesus. The ancient Canaanites worshiped there, and later the Greeks built a shrine there dedicated to the God Pan, God of fertility. Many pagan gods were worshiped here, including Baal. Jesus, the Son of the living God chose this place to reveal the one true God, putting to shame all other gods who have no ears to hear or mouths to speak!
The title Son of Man is recorded in many books of Old Testament. For example, Book of Daniel 7:13-14 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and …his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away…
Son of Man is Jesus’s favorite title for himself, used over 80 times in New Testament to refer to himself.
Book of Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Why did Jesus refer to himself that way? Jesus had a lot of teaching to do in His public ministry and it was a lot safer than to call himself the Messiah. I believe He also wanted us to know that He was truly MAN, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of Mother Mary. He, being human and divine, can be our Savior and atone for sin.
Jesus asks His disciples directly, WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? There is that I AM again, it’s like he is giving them a hint. Peter steps forward and bears witness, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Are we willing to step boldly forward and bear witness to the Truth? It may be difficult and there are consequences. Look at the heavy burden He placed on Peter’s shoulders. Blessed are you, Simon… For flesh and blood* has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,*
Wow! Upon this rock, you, Peter, I will build my Church. I know you will deny me, Peter, but you will come back to me and bear stronger witness than ever! Lord you know that I love you! John 21:17 (Peter)
Who do we say Jesus is? To know about Jesus is not the same as knowing Jesus. We must get close like the disciples did. We are all called to be disciples. We see time and time again that God chooses people like Peter. God doesn’t call the equipped; he equips the called. Thanks be to God!