Mt 15:29-37
From there, Jesus went to the shore of Lake Galilee, and then went up into the hills, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the dumb, the blind, the lame, the crippled, and many with other infirmities. The people carried them to the feet of Jesus, and he healed them. All were astonished when they saw the dumb speaking, the lame walking, the crippled healed and the blind able to see; so they glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus called his disciples and said to them, “I am filled with compassion for these people; they have already followed me for three days and now have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away fasting, or they may faint on the way.” His disciples said to him, “And where shall we find enough bread in this wilderness to feed such a crowd?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They answered, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
Jesus ordered the people to sit on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the small fish and gave thanks to God. He broke them and gave them to his disciples, who distributed them to the people.
They all ate and were satisfied, and the leftover broken pieces filled seven wicker baskets.
REFLECTION
Two miles west of Capernaum near the Sea of Galilee there is a place of springs called Taghba. In a Byzantine monastery we can see a nice mosaic with a basket of bread and two fishes.
It is the memorial of an important moment in the public life of Jesus: the multiplication of bread in a desert place.
Let us contemplate today the compassion of Jesus, first to all kind of illnesses that the suffering people offer to him, but after, let us consider his compassionate observation of this crowd. It is necessary to provide them with sufficient food. He is available to use his power to do it. The scene is wonderful and the gratitude of the people is overflowing.
This is a clear sign of the messiahship of Jesus, but for us is the security that the heart of Jesus is the same in the face of all our needs and deceases. Let us be confident in faith and hope. The multiplication of Jesus’ signs of compassion will arrive throughout our lives.
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