Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 7th August 2023

Message from Fr Paul for Monday, 7th August 2023

 Although yesterday was an exceptionally busy and tiring day, I made time to watch and pray with the closing Mass of World Youth Day, in which a million and a half young people took part. It was as moving as it was impressive, as prayerful as it overflowed with joy and thanksgiving. Seeing so many young people from all over the world in love with Jesus and Our Lady, with the Gospel and the Church, exited to share their faith with others and commit themselves to the mission of bringing salvation to the whole world, it truly fills us with hope and thanksgiving. I loved Pope Francis’ final reflexion at the Angelus on the Portuguese word, “obrigado.” The whole week was incredibly uplifting and fills us all with hope for the future of our world, which at times seems lost and devoid of all goodness and faith.

 Our Gospel passage today comes from Matthew, (Mt 14: 13-21), and is the account of the feeding of the five thousand. It’s important to note the context in which this miracle took place in Matthew. “When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the people heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So, as he stepped ashore, he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick.” Jesus wants to be alone, to reflect on the death of John the Baptist, what this might mean for his mission and for his followers. However, so hungry are the crowds for his words of wisdom and his miracles of healing, that in no time at all he finds himself not alone but with a vast crowed of people. At the end of the episode Matthew tells us, “Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children.” There could have been twenty or twenty-five thousand souls in all. What we note about Jesus is the pity, mercy and compassion he has for the crowds that follow him. They are not only searching for the healing of physical ailments, but for forgiveness and the love of God. However, as the day wears on, it soon becomes evening and they are hungry and thirsty, especially the children, I should imagine. 

 And so, the account continues: “When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place, and the time has slipped by; so, send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they answered ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’ ‘Bring them here to me’ he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps remaining; twelve baskets full.” So contented and fulfilled are the crowd to be with Jesus, that time flies and it soon becomes evening, but there is little or no food available. We know the rest of the story only too well. What do we notice in particular? The fact that Jesus is unruffled and thanks his heavenly Father for the little they have available, not doubting that it will suffice if accompanied by prayer and thanksgiving. The language used, especially the verbs, are those of the Last Supper, the Eucharist. And there’s a lot left over, but it’s not wasted or thrown away. It’s kept for another day, perhaps for breakfast.