Left-Overs

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” 

His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd.

They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha. (Mark 8:1-10)

Are we satisfied after leaving church for a Sunday, Saturday or weekday Mass?  Did we get enough bread?  More importantly, did the bread we receive satisfy our hunger especially for peace and a closeness with Christ?

Some of us go home hungry and collapse on the way.   Too many of us still search for meaning and relevance of the Mass.  We can be a pitiful crowd thinking more of the day’s agenda rather than what the Mass provides.   Certainly, a good homily and inspiring music and song help, but more is needed especially for children and young adults.

We simply may be left-over fragments struggling to make church and our faith relevant in our lives.  We may be one of the four thousand (and more) rather than disciples.  If so, we mustn’t give up hope.

We’ve already come great distances.  Let’s go farther by getting into Jesus’ boat(s), sail with him, and feel his wind in our sails.   Calm waters of weakened faith do happen, but strong wind and bolstered faith always come to move us onwards.  And, we can catch fish along the way.

Deacon David Pierce