Spiritual Food – Reflection on Matthew 14:13-21
Five years ago, I wrote a version of this reflection comfortably settled under a canopy of pines next to a small cabin at a conservation property overlooking a pond we rented. This “deserted place” had turned into a once-a-year retreat. It was the week of my 40th wedding anniversary. In prayer, I became transfixed by God’s miracle gift of my wife. Five years later, in a similar circumstance, I am still learning how to consistently reflect the filling spiritual food of Jesus’s love in me to her. Interestingly, it still feels like a beginner in these five years, but it gives me great joy to know I have so much more to receive and give to her.
The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes by James Tissot (full-resolution painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Matthew 14:13-21 – Scripture*
Feeding the Five Thousand
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Matthew 14:13-21 Reflection – Spiritual Food.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible for the Matthew 14 Bible passage.
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