Luke 9: 11-17

[Melody]

From the Gospel acc. to St. Luke; Chapter 9 (NRSV)

11 When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured.

12 The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place."

13 But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people."

14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

15 They did so and made them all sit down.

16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

17 And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

[Seeker]

I see the church of today in this reading:

11 When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured.

We hear the Word of God and are called by Christ.  We all seek happiness in this life and the next and the answer is always Christ.  We are healed in Baptism and Reconciliation/Confession.

12 The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place."

Is not this world a kind of exile from the Beatific Vision?  Many of us are in a "deserted place" in our lives.  How many of us experience loneliness and emptiness, yet the answer is always Christ.  Even after He heals us, He doesn't leave us to fend for ourselves.  He continues to feed us and strengthen us as we journey in this life.

14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

15 They did so and made them all sit down.

16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

Christ works through the bishops and their co-workers, priests and deacons (today's successors of the apostolic ministry), to feed and strengthen us in the Eucharist.  He gives us Himself everyday throughout the world.  I see a parallel to the Church in how Christ has the apostles organize the people in the deserted place, and then "taking the ... loaves ... he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples ..."  This is reminiscent of the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist.  The disciples then set the food before the crowd.  This reminds me of the priest in Mass who acts in the person of Christ to bring us the Bread from Heaven.  

So little food for five thousand, yet there are leftovers.  How can this be, but of God? Faith is required to see and believe. The same can be said of the Eucharist.  One Lord, yet He is present in every morsel of bread which we eat in the Eucharist.  How can this be, but of God?  Faith is required to see and believe.

I am touched by Christ's love for us.  He heals, then loves us to the end by remaining with us in our exile to feed and strengthen us.  How great is our Lord!

I also better appreciate the ministry of the priesthood and those who have consecrated their lives to serving us, the Church.  They are truly a gift from God, these men who bring us the Eucharist.

[Rose Mary]

Corpus Christi.... The Body of Christ... Take and eat... This is My Body..
Every day... at every Mass... throughout the world... we have this Miracle of the Multiplication of the Eucharist... feeding us.... through the words and actions of a Priest... we are fed... we the multitude....

I actually witnessed a Eucharistic Miracle at a Wedding Mass in Wisconsin.  Sr.Pat Proctor of Franciscan Cards... has included it in her new book "101 Inspirational Stories on The Eucharist"   She had no idea that the Pope would be declaring this a Year of The Eucharist...but she had just completed "101 Inspirational Stories on The Rosary" for the Year of The Rosary...and it made the N.Y. Best Seller List and so she thought it would be a way to spread devotion to The Eucharist by doing a similar book.   She is of course overjoyed that her book will be published and on the shelves in time for Oct.24th.   She is also devoting her website to The Eucharist

You can access it at www.rosary101.com and possibly www.eucharist101.com

Yours for "LIFE"  Rose Mary

[Melody]

I actually witnessed a Eucharistic Miracle at a Wedding Mass in Wisconsin

What was it about Rose Mary? Any chance that you can elaborate? I for one would be greatly edified.

Blessings,

Melody