Reflections from the May 29 Gospel
Luke 9:11b-17
“And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.” Today’s Gospel shows us that Jesus wants to do more than satisfy our needs. He wants to give us an experience of fullness and abundance. He not only miraculously fed the crowd of thousands; he also provided enough to make a mountain of leftovers. More than they needed, more than they ever expected. That’s what Jesus gave. And it’s what he continues to give us every time we receive the Eucharist. This too is a miraculous meal. Like the multiplication of five loaves and two fish, Jesus turns something small—bread and wine—into something abundant and overflowing: his body, blood, soul, and divinity.
Through this sacrament we experience the gift of union with Jesus and the resulting graces that come from encountering him. Just like the crowds gathered that day in a deserted place, we come to Jesus with our emptiness—our needs, our weaknesses, our fears—and he fills us up until we too are “satisfied.” Receiving the Lord in the Eucharist is a momentous miracle and an earthly glimpse into heaven. May today’s celebration help remind us to be ever grateful for this most glorious gift.
Questions of the Week
Luke 9:11b-17:
In what ways is the feeding of the
five thousand a foreshadowing of
the Eucharist?
Genesis 14:18-20:
How do you offer a tithing to God for the gifts you have received?
1 Corinthians 11:23-26:
Why do you think Jesus placed such a high priority on the eucharistic meal being “in memory of me”?