July 26, 2009
You may remember that last week’s readings focused on the ways in which Jesus acts as the compassionate, caring leader who has concern for the needs of the people. This week, we see him act out of his heartfelt promptings as he feeds the multitudes who seek his support. The scriptural precedent for this feeding miracle is found in 2 Kings when Elisha orders a man who brings the first-fruits of the harvest as an offering to the Lord to “give it to the people to eat” instead. Despite great odds, over a hundred people ate their fill with some left over. The famishing hunger of the people was satisfied by God.
A similar scenario unfolds in John’s Gospel when Jesus feeds the 5,000 with the approaching Passover feast as the backdrop to the story. Jesus, bringing to mind the good shepherd imagery of Psalm 23, instructs his disciples to rely upon the boy’s five loaves and two fish. His doubtful disciples are confounded because of the enormity of the need and the utter lack of resources, but Jesus takes the loaves, blesses them, and gives the food to the hungry. God cares for the hungering crowds by giving to them over-abundantly.
Appropriately, many people will relate these readings to social justice – imploring the people to make a difference in the inequitable distribution of the world’s wealth and resources, one of the greatest evils of our day, but there is more to the story. One question to ask ourselves is, “do we perceive matters like the disciples did?” Do we see the paucity of solutions or do we consider the great resources available to us? The central feature, though, is to keep our eye on the one who knows us best and satisfies every need. God is the one who provides abundantly for us because God has great compassion for us. While not forgetting our responsibility to our neighbor, we first have to search deep within ourselves to discover our most unfed hunger and allow the Lord to satisfy our hungry heart. Let us not lose sight of the Good Shepherd, the wise and prudent leader, who wants to recline on that green grass with us and listen to our stories.
Quote for the Week
Since the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola is celebrated this Friday, July 31st, I will use two quotes from the founding member of the Society of Jesus. The first is from the end of The Spiritual Exercises in the contemplation to attain the love by which God loves.
“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All I have and call my own. Whatever I have or hold, you have given to me.I restore it all to you and surrender it wholly to be governed under your will. Give me only your love and grace and I am rich enough and ask for nothing more.”
The second quote is from the Formula of the Institute, which is the foundational document of the Society of Jesus first approved in 1540 by Pope Paul III, and confirmed in 1550 by Pope Julius III.
"Whoever desires to serve as a soldier of God beneath the banner of the cross in our society, which we desire to be designated by the name of Jesus, and to serve the Lord alone and the Church, his spouse, under the Roman pontiff, the vicar of Christ on earth, should, after a solemn vow of perpetual chastity, poverty and obedience, keep what follows in mind. He is a member of a Society founded chiefly for this purpose:
to strive especially for the defense and propagation of the faith and for the progress of souls in Christian life and doctrine, by means of public preaching, lectures, and any other ministration whatsoever of the word of God and further by means of the Spiritual Exercises, the education of children and unlettered persons in Christianity and the spiritual consolation of Christ's faithful through hearing confessions and administering the other sacraments.
Moreover, he should show himself ready to reconcile the estranged, compassionately assist and serve those who are in prisons or hospitals and, indeed, to perform any other works of charity, according to what will seem expedient for the glory of God and the common good."
Themes for this Week’s Masses
God’s abiding presence in to the Hebrews as a column of cloud is seen this week through the accounts of Exodus. They notice how God meets Moses and discusses the situation of the people with him. In response to the covenant, Moses writes down the divine commandments while on Sinai, but when he returns he notices the people have quickly turned away in revelry and have begun to worship a molten calf. After Moses sets matters aright, the people build a tent as a place to meet God. They major festal celebrations are set that celebrate God’s presence to them.
We move into the thirteenth chapter of Matthew where Jesus tells his disciples about the Kingdom of God through the use of parables. He explains why this technique is needed for he will “announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.” The images used in the parables relate to the daily life of the people, but they are used as metaphors and analogies that help us understand the nature of God’s kingdom in familiar ways. On Saturday, we have a pause in Jesus’ teaching as we become observers of Herod’s banquet in which John the Baptist will be beheaded.
Saints of the Week
Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus, is honored on Wednesday as a model for hospitality and also for her fidelity to the Lord. She lived in Bethany two miles outside of Jerusalem. Mary is known for sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to his words while Martha receives Jesus into their home and served the guests. Later in John’s Gospel, Martha goes out to meet Jesus who returned to Bethany to raise Lazarus. Martha makes her famous confession of faith that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of faith.
Thursday is the memorial of Peter Chrysologus, doctor of the church and archbishop of Ravenna, Italy. Chrysologus means “golden words” and is so named because of his famous 5th century homilies that helped to convert Ravenna from paganism to the faith.
Friday is the feast of Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits and author of the Spiritual Exercises. As a Basque nobleman, he was wounded in a battle at Pamplona in northeastern Spain and convalesced at his castle where he realized he followed a methodology of discernment of spirits. When he recovered, he ministered to the sick and dying and then retreated to a cave at Manresa, Spain where he had experiences that formed the basis of The Spiritual Exercises. In order to preach, he studied Latin, earned a Master’s Degree at the University of Paris, and then gathered other students to serve Jesus. Francis Xavier and Peter Faber were his first friends. After ordination, Ignatius and his nine friends went to Rome where they formally became the Society of Jesus. Most Jesuits were sent on mission, but Ignatius stayed in Rome directing the rapidly growing religious order, composing its constitutions, and perfecting the Spiritual Exercises. He died in 1556 and the Jesuit Order was already 1,000 men strong. Since Sunday is the Lord’s Day, the memorial of Blessed Peter Faber is not celebrated. Faber was a founding companion and the first priest of the early Jesuits. He is known for his promotion of The Spiritual Exercises.
On Saturday, we celebrate Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorist Order. Liguori wrote thirty-six theological and devotional works; he also was a spiritual director who practiced simplicity, gentleness, and intelligibility.
New Provincial for the New England Province
The feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola is the day in which new assignments within the Jesuit Order typically take place. This July 31st, Fr. Myles Sheehan will take over as the Provincial of the New England province. Fr. Sheehan left Loyola University in Chicago to become the provincial for the next six years. Blessings and best wishes to Fr. Sheehan and to the New England Province.
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