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July 31, 2011, 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Jesus said to them, "There is no need for them to disperse. Give them something to eat yourselves." (Matthew 14-16)

READINGS:

1. Is. 55,1-3
2. Rom. 8, 35, 37-39
3. Mt. 14, 13-21                            Readings Here

REFLECTION: The meal is probably the most vivid and universal symbol we have for representing the giving of life. Food and drink, of themselves, support life by providing physical energy. Food and drink

taken with family and friends nourishes the spirit with emotional energy. So it is no wonder that Jesus chose a meal as a setting for the Eucharist. The meal gives life and fosters unity. The power of the meal to do this underlies the power of the sacred ritual meal of the Mass to give life and bring about unity.

PRAYER: Lord, Jesus, help us to use mealtime as a time to exchange care, concern, fun, love and tenderness. Help us to listen and to speak so that each of us at the meal leave the table satisfied in body and spirit. Amen.

ACTION: Make time this week to share a leisurely meal with someone(s) you care about. Decide to schedule more family meals that will feed the body and spirit.

FAMILY DISCUSSION:

Monday: Plan a special but simple meal. Ask a family member (child, teen or adult) to share at the meal, a reading, a poem, a prayer or anything that is special, meaningful and important to them.

Tuesday: Reflect on the mood of the meals in your home. How do you at meals recognize the Lord's presence?

Wednesday: When Jesus fed the 5,000, He showed his concern. How do you show your concern for those who need food?

Thursday: Think about how you have eaten recently. Does it reflect on how you have been living in other ways?

Friday: What are some of the ways in which, or some of the occasions in which your family has and can extend hospitality.

Saturday: What realistically, can you do to help alleviate the problem of hunger in the world?

PRAYER: Lord, we may never be blessed by the hungry coming to our door to be fed. Yet, should you send them, or come yourself then help us to open the door and our hearts. In the meantime, may we be physically and spiritually energized from our meals that we will reach out and feed those who hunger for food and for hope and for love. Amen.