Monday 4 August 2025 - Five loaves and two fish

Monday 4 August 2025

Today is Monday the 4th of August, the feast of Saint John Vianney, in the 18th week of Ordinary Time. Luke Parker sings, ‘In Quietness’. How will you meet with the Lord today? When I am down and on my knees You are enough, you're all I need It's here you meet me, so I'll stay In the stillness of your embrace When I am down and on my knees With all that I am surrendering And in this moment face to face In your presence, Lord, I will wait In quietness I wait for you to speak My spirit thirsty, Lord, longing for you And I'll wait, Lord, for more of you My soul thirsts, Lord, for more of you You break the silence Your voice it inspires And I am in awe of your love You bring a newness of life in its fullness Revealing the plans of your heart In quietness I wait for you to speak My spirit thirsty, Lord, longing for you And I'll wait, Lord, for more of you My soul thirsts, Lord, for more of you When I am down and on my knees In this moment, Lord, I will wait Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 14:13-21 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. This story starts with Jesus hearing of the execution of John the Baptist; and we notice that his response is not to challenge Herod, but to seek solitude, perhaps to reflect on what he should do next; but the crowds will not allow him any peace and quiet. The disciples are trying to persuade Jesus to “get rid of them”. Yet we hear that Jesus had compassion on the crowds. Be with Jesus in this moment... what might he want to tell you about His compassion? Jesus “blessed and broke the bread”. What might we remember as we hear these words? Maybe the Last Supper? Or the Road to Emmaus... Stay with Jesus and perhaps speak with Him about what is to come... Now listen as the passage is read once more. Does anything catch your attention? Matthew 14:13-21 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Finally, try to remember all the emotions and feelings that this passage has aroused in you. Do you think that you can turn them into a prayer to God? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen