Five Loaves Two Fishes

Five loaves and two fishes. corrinne may
A little boy of thirteen was on his way to school
He heard a crowd of people laughing and he went to take a look
Thousands were listening to the stories of one man
He spoke with such wisdom, even the kids could understand

The hours passed so quickly the day turned to night
Everyone was hungry but there was no food in sight
The boy looked in his lunchbox at the little that he had
He wasn’t sure what good it’d do there were thousands to be fed

But he saw the twinkling eyes of Jesus the kindness in His smile
and the boy cried out with the trust of a child he said:

“Take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
to feed them all”

I often think about that boy when I’m feeling small
and I worry that the work I do means nothing at all

But every single tear I cry is a diamond in His hands
and every door that slams in my face
I will offer up in prayer

So I’ll give you every breath that I have
Oh Lord, you can work miracles
All you need is my “Amen”

So take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
I hope it’s not too small

I trust in you
I trust in you

Take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
no gift is too small

Multiplication of the loaves

Prepare for Mass – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

God loves us so much and knows our every need.  The LORD is good to all, compassionate to every creature. – Ps 145:9.  God promised a final and everlasting covenant fullfilled in Jesus.  This covenant is entrusted to the Church, the body of Christ.  

In the gospel reading of Matthew 14:13-21, the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus showed compassion on the multitudes of people that followed him to a deserted place after he heard the news of the death of John the Baptist.  When the disciples suggested that Jesus dismiss the crowds so that they could go to the villages to buy food for themselves, Jesus said let them eat.  The two fish and five loaves were all they had.  Jesus took the fish and loaves and looking up to heaven, said the blessing, gave it to the disciples who in turn gave it to the crowds.  Five thousand, not including women and children were fed and were satisfied.

In this precursor to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, Jesus charges his disciples with feeding the multitude. The Lord invites us into an everlasting covenant with him that promises fulfillment for both body and soul.  His invitation is a call for us to entrust what we have to him and to love him.  What can separate us from God’s love?  Nothing. 

He asked the disciples to give him what little they had for food.  Being God, he could have made it appear out of nowhere and had the disciples watch while he himself distributed the food to the crowd in a spectacular way.  Instead he said entrust to me what little you have and I’ll make sure you have what you need to sustain you.  He gave his disciples the task of feeding the multitude. 

So to he entrusts each of us to build up the body of Christ, to evangalize, to make disciples of every nation, to respond to vocations, to be kind to the people around us (even those we don’t particularly care for), to trust and love God, to love ourselves, and to love our neighbors.

Is 55:1-3 – All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare. Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.

Catechism 1335
The miracles of the multiplication of the loaves, when the Lord says the blessing, breaks and distributes the loaves through his disciples to feed the multitude, prefigure the superabundance of this unique bread of his Eucharist.

Church of the Multiplication – Tabgha

PRAYER

O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.

-St. Ignatius of Loyola

Treasure hunting

Prepare for Mass – 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

God told Solomon in a dream to ask something and he would in turn give it to him. Solomon asked for an understanding heart to distinguish right from wrong. God was so pleased with this, he gave him a heart so wise in understanding that nobody in the past or to come would equal – 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12.

Right judgement or the wisdom to know the difference between right from wrong which is sought after by so many can be found in God’s law in the old testament which is renewed and fullfilled in the new testament. “Teaching from your lips is more precious to me than heaps of silver and gold- Ps 119:72.”

In Mt 13:44-49, Jesus gives three parables of the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus said to his disciples:
1) “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

2) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.

3) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore
and sit down to put what is good into buckets.
What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

Notice the response sell all and buy in the first two parables. Also notice what happens to the bad fish. Moral truths do not depend on people holding them. Just because we believe something is right or wrong doesn’t make it right or wrong. Jesus Christ is the Truth. Cultural norms for good behavior and bad behavior are not dictated by pop culture. We may even get to a point in time when need to face the reality that the good we thought was good is not at all good and the treasure we were searching for was right there hidden in the field waiting for us to uncover. Once found, we may find ourselves totally selling off what we thought were treasures for things that are worth much more than silver and gold. I think I might sell my bad attitude for kindness and love.

St Paul in his letter to the Romans says that “we know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” He made us in the image and likeness of Himself and though we are broken by our sin, God has redeemed mankind and all of creation through Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection. We are all called into communion with God in the kingdom of heaven. “And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified – Rom 8:30.”

Isn’t truth relative?

Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 546
Jesus’ invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables he invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything. Words are not enough, deeds are required. The parables are like mirrors for man: will he be hard soil or good earth for the word? What use has he made of the talents he has received? Jesus and the presence of the kingdom in this world are secretly at the heart of the parables. One must enter the kingdom, that is, become a disciple of Christ, in order to “know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven”. For those who stay “outside”, everything remains enigmatic <-(not clearly seen or easily distinguished).

World Youth Day 2008

World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney Australia

Theme: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon
you; and you will be my witnesses.” Acts1:8

Cardinal Pell Homily Opening Mass WYD 2008

WYD08 Sydney Final Mass

Highlights

Some good videos from various sources
Photos

Pope Benedict XVI in Sydney motorcade WYD

Pilgrims re-enact final days of Christ

The Theme Song – RECEIVE THE POWER




PRAYER
a Prayer for World Youth Day 2008
God Our Father,
we consecrate to you the World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008.
Guide and protect Pope Benedict and all the leaders of the Church.
Inspire and direct all those leading and planning the World Youth Day. Unite and protect them by your fatherly care.
Amen

Lord Jesus Christ,
before you ascended to the Father,
you promised to send your Holy Spirit so that we might be your witnesses to the end of the earth.
Bless and multiply the efforts of all our staff and volunteers.
Help us to take up our cross and follow you
under the heavenly sign of the Southern Cross.
Amen

Holy Spirit,
pour out your grace on this Great South Land
of the Holy Spirit and grant to us a New Pentecost.
Make of this land a true place of welcome
for the young people of the world.
Grant to those young people who come conversion of life,
a deeper faith, and love for all.
Enable them to build a new civilization of life, love and truth.
Make them true witnesses to your power and grace.
Amen

Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians – pray for us.

Blessed Mary MacKillop – pray for us.

GOD BLESS