Daily Gospel Reflection
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August 1, 2022
When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late;
dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages
and buy food for themselves.”
He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;
give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to me,”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over–
twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men,
not counting women and children.
Jesus needs a break to process the loss of his cousin John the Baptist, but the crowd pursues him—limping, in need, and hopeful. As always, Jesus assumes hospitality and dismisses the idea of sending the crowds away.
I try to imagine the disciples’ conversation before working up the courage to tell Jesus they only had five loaves and two fish to feed over five thousand people. Did they give what they had with a feeling of optimism or desperation?
Whose loaves and fish were offered that day? Did someone hear the disciples discussing their dilemma and volunteer his food? Maybe someone in the crowd encouraged him to step forward. Perhaps the donor was annoyed because that’s not what he had planned for those five loaves and two fish.
Jesus accepted the meager offering without remark. As the disciples and the crowd sat with their eyes on Christ, they were a community showing up to the table of the Lord. There was not only enough—there was an abundance. Their hunger was acknowledged and satiated.
Today, may we remember that lives change when we show up and gather with others, even if only a motley crew. When we offer what we have with humor, humility, hope, or even reluctance, miracles happen.
God, we are coming to the table, some of us limping, some in need, some hopeful. We all come as we are today, asking you to multiply our gifts. Take what we bring to the table, bless it, and may it bring life to our families, our communities, and each other. Help us to trust it will be enough.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are merciful, compassionate, and fully understand our human weakness. You know our fears, the things that hold us back from trusting you and from becoming fully ourselves. But you won’t let us use those things as an excuse. You always challenge us to grow, and with the challenge comes the grace to meet it. Thank you for caring so much about us. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Alphonsus Liguori was born in 1696 in Naples, Italy, the oldest of seven children. He was soon known as a child prodigy—he earned a doctorate in law by the age of 16. At 21 he had his own legal practice and soon became a leading lawyer in Naples.
His law practice immersed him in the world, and he found escape in music and in visiting the sick. While visiting people suffering from terminal illnesses, he felt a distinct call to leave the world and to give himself to God. He began to study theology, even though his family protested, and was ordained a priest when he was 29.
He became known for his clear, direct, and simple preaching, and he would travel to parishes around Naples giving missions. He became a sought-after theologian and writer and founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, known as the Redemptorists, in 1750.
He was appointed bishop of an area near Naples, which was marked by uneducated parishioners and apathetic priests. He worked tirelessly to educate the laity and reform seminaries.
As he aged, he suffered from severe rheumatism. Often, he could barely move or even raise his chin off his chest. He spent several years only drinking from tubes because his head was so bent forward.
He endured turmoil within the government and even his own religious order, but persevered through it all. He vowed never to waste a moment of his life and lived that way for more than 90 years. He died in 1787, and nearly 100 years later, he was declared a doctor of the Church, a title given to 37 saints who are known for elucidating the faith by their words or example.
Much of what marks St. Alphonsus’ holiness has to do with his use of time. On the one hand, he vowed to never waste a moment of his life, and was profoundly productive. On the other hand, it was in performing a profoundly non-productive work of mercy that he heard God’s call to deepen his life of faith. As a leading lawyer, he must have had many claims on his time, yet he made time in his day to visit those suffering from terminal illnesses. Those visits opened a different horizon to his life.
As the patron of the work of lay people, we can call upon St. Alphonsus’ example and prayer to assist us in using our time well. May we find the balance he achieved between productivity and the “unproductive” works of mercy where we hear the voice of God.
St. Alphonsus Liguori’s relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Alphonsus Liguori, patron saint of the work of laypeople, pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Alphonsus Liguori is in the public domain. Last accessed March 28, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
