Sunday 31 July

18th Sunday Ordinary Time

Isaiah 55:1-3, Ps:145, Romans 8:35,37-39, Matt 14:13-21

Give them something to eat yourselves

Matthew’s gospel has two multiplications of loaves, and the differences are highly symbolic. This first event seems to be stress the Palestinian west side of the lake, and the number 12 echoing the tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles. The second the East side with Israelites among gentiles and the number 7. In both events Jesus used what food was available without sending the people away. The miracle depended on people making what they had available. How ready am I to make my talents available to the community?