Date: Sunday, July 26, 2015
Paul, in prison, writes a letter to the Church at Ephesus, urging the community “to live a life worthy of the call they have received; bearing with one another in love; striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the bond of peace.” That letter is forwarded to us and opened at this Mass. Are we living a life worthy of the call we received at baptism? We are inspired by two persons who live with a sense of purpose or calling: Ann Marie Zon and Fr. Dennis Cleary – two missionaries. When speaking to us at weekend Masses they did not refer to the good works that they were doing but to all the blessings they have received from people who welcomed them into their lives. There is a sense of call in our Gospel today. A great crowd is drawn to Jesus because of signs or wonderful acts he has done for the sick. Jesus asks Philip how they can feed the multitude. Being from this area, on the Sea of Galilee, Philip insists that there is no way to feed so many. But Andrew steps in with a boy with 5 barley loaves and two fish. The vast crowd reclines on the grass and Jesus feeds them like a Good Shepherd. It is Passover time. There are twelve baskets full of leftover morsels of food. Jesus takes a meager gift and blesses it for the bounty of others. What do we have to offer Jesus? What can we provide? We may be embarrassed by our own self assessment but Jesus needs our offering/personal gifts to fulfill God’s plan. Growing up many Catholics made a morning offering i.e. entrusting events and sacrifices of the upcoming day to Jesus for the wellbeing of the Church and of others. It is a beautiful prayer and custom:
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month.
Amen.