Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": 18th Sun. of Ordinary Time

Readings

Is 55:1-3 Come to the water! Without cost drink wine and milk! Why spend money on what fails to satisfy? Come to me heedfully; listen and live.

Ps 145:8-9, 15-18 "The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs." He's gracious, merciful, kind, good, compassionate, just, holy, and near to all who call; he satisfies the desire of every living thing.

Rom 8:35, 37-39 Death, life, angels, principalities, present or future things, powers, height, depth, and other created things can't separate us from God's love in Christ our Lord.

Click to animate the words of today's readings

Mt 14:13-21 When Jesus saw the crowd, his heart was moved, and he cured their sick. Disciples / Jesus: "Let the crowds go buy food." / “Give them food yourselves.” / “We only have five loaves and two fish.” / “Bring them to me.” He took, blessed, and broke them and gave them to the disciples to give out. All 5,000 men, plus women and children, ate and were satisfied, and twelve full baskets were left over.

Pope Francis

Angelus on compassion, sharing, and thanksgiving: Christ didn't react with irritation to the crowd who didn't leave him alone but rather felt compassion. The healings he performed showed his compassion. Jesus teaches us to put the poor's needs ahead of ours. The disciples would have sent the crowd away, but Jesus told them to feed them; the disciples were thinking according to the world (everyone for themselves); Jesus, God's logic of sharing. Jesus blessed and broke the bread before it was distributed, as he'd do at the Last Supper when he established the Eucharist, the bread of life, Christ’s self-gift of love. May Our Lady accompany us on our earthly pilgrimage and assist us as we strive to meet the needs of those we encounter along the way.

Music

God is working for our good/ Hayes (2nd reading)
If God be for us, from Messiah / Handel (2nd reading)
I am persuaded/ Hettenhouser (2nd reading)
Ain't no mountain high enough/ Ashford, Simpson (inspired by 2nd reading; thanks, Lucy) NEW
More songs for 2nd reading: see Oct. 31

Reflections

Creighton: Our hunger goes beyond food to spiritual nourishment, but we don't always do what we should to be nourished such as pray or share of ourselves.

One Bread One Body: Jesus asked his disciples, and asks us, to feed the hungry crowd. We are God's ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20), charged with bringing the the [hungry] people to God [who satisfies]; it's an ambassador's dream to be between one party with needs and Another who wants to and can fulfill them. Lord, give us the desire to satisfy the hungry with God's Word, the Eucharist, and food.

Passionist: Today's readings are about God taking care of us. (1st: "Heed me and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare." Psalm: "the Lord... answers all our needs." 2nd: "nothing can separate us from God's love." Gospel: Jesus fed thousands.) God feeds us with his Word, the Eucharist, and food for our bodies; God works through us to help others. A billion people were chronically hungry last year. What can I do to help—eat less, share more, advocate...?

DailyScripture.net: People hungry for God were drawn to Jesus and received hope from his message and signs. Jesus' feeding of the 5,000+ is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels; it recalls the provision of manna (Ex 16) and foreshadows Jesus the Bread of Life's giving of himself at the Last Supper and the Cross. (Jn 6:32-35). As Jesus fed them then, God now multiplies the little we have so we can bring his blessing to others. How do I share?

Universalis: If not trumped by Sunday, St. Germanus of Auxerre, lawyer, governor, bishop, fought Pelagianism; see Wikipedia. St. Oswald, king generous to the poor.

Apparel

Blue shirt: come to the water! (1st reading)
'Grain' pin: come, receive grain and eat (1st reading); Jesus took the five loaves (gospel)
'Grapes' pin: drink wine! (1st reading)
'Penny' button: Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? (1st reading)

'Hand' tie pin: "The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs."
'Eyeball' tie pin: "The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season" (psalm)
'Phone' tie bar: "The Lord is near to all who 'call' upon him in truth." (psalm)

Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress"