of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Loaves and Fishes

Loaves and Fishes

Today’s Consuming Fire
Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s
Scriptures

Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Loaves and Fishes

When I entered the bakery, I remembered that it was Saturday and I asked, “Do you still have bread?” They said, “No.” I was scared. What will happen now? When I was about to leave, I heard them call me. They had reserved a bread, but the one for whom they had set it aside did not come to get it. At once, I said, “My adorable Jesus.” He said: Jesus: “I am that one. Do you see? The time you spend with Me should not harm your family. (Elizabeth/Jesus) (February 14, 1965)

Today’s Readings: Philip answered him,
“Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not
be enough
for each of them to have a little.” 
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves
and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?” 
Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” 
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. 
So the men reclined, about five thousand in
number. 
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted. (John
6)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord, we thank You and praise You and adore You because today we read about the loaves and the fishes. The disciples were in a tough spot because the crowds were overwhelming- how would they feed so many. What did they have to work with- five barley loaves and two fish? Who could do anything with that for so many? And how many times do we also start to run on empty,  so little to give, afraid that what we have will never be enough. And yet Lord, to quote Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen, it is not our job to feed the five thousand but to bring the loaves and fishes. The loaves and fishes of our lives- the little we have left given to You in all humility and trust knowing that what is overwhelming for us is not overwhelming for You! And what do You do with these loaves and fishes- these fragments of our lives? You take what we have to give and You multiply it- You make what we have to give perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) united to You. And You are always more than enough and more than we can ever ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Lord today’s Gospel is the beginning of John 6- the Bread of Life discourse. The multiplication miracle of the loaves and fishes is a foreshadowing of what is to come in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar when You give everything You have to us in the Eucharist. O Lord, let us praise, love, and adore You and receive You with grateful affection always knowing that You will always take the little we have to give, our nothingness really, and multiply it in union with You and Your Most Holy Divine Will!

Mosaic of loaves & fishes at Tabgha - Library Of Congress Public Domain  Image