They all ate and were satisfied

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Although this Sunday we will continue listening to the Gospel of Matthew, we will not hear a parable but the reading is about one of Jesus’ miracles. It is miracle we have heard many times and know it well. Sometimes, because we ‘know’ it we tend to switch off and not pay attention to the reading. It is important therefore, to make an effort and listen carefully, and allow the gospel to speak to us.

Jesus had just heard about the killing of John the Baptist, and he wanted to be alone, however the people followed him. As always, he took pity on them and he healed the sick, he taught them about God’s love and he gave them to eat. What a contrast to Herod’s meal! The one at Herod’s ended with the beheading of John, the meal with Jesus ended with unity, sharing and joy!

If we go back to the parables of the previous weeks, more specifically to the mustard seed, we notice that today’s Gospel message is similar. We give God our little contribution and he works wonders. But it is up to us to give our share. Today’s reading is astonishing not as much as the feeding of the multitudes but in the twelve baskets which were gathered afterwards. God’s providence is abundant. It in fact reminds us of another miracle, when Jesus turns the water into wine in the wedding at Cana. Again the abundance, this time the abundance of wine, is very evident.

If Jesus had wished it, he could have easily done without the help of the apostles. However, he asks twice for their help: “give them some food yourselves” and “bring them here to me.” Many times, we feel the same way as the apostles. Most probably they were hungry and tired, and they longed to be back home. Most probably when Jesus asked them to “give them some food yourselves”, they wanted to say: “Are you serious about this?” Jesus wanted the apostles to do their part, he wanted them to feel compassion for those people, and he wants us to feel the same. Most probably there have been times, when we allowed others to do that which was expected from us. We could have excused ourselves because of lack of time or money, or because of tiredness or lack of ability or any other excuse. But we know that just as what happened that day, when we give our little bit, Jesus works wonders. Every day he invites us to help others, to help out at the parish or join some group, he asks us not to look the other way, when our help is needed, to stop and listen to those who would like to open up their hearts, that we do our housework with love, even if it is not appreciated. Prayer is important, but we cannot just pray for the needs of others, we have to do our part too.

The miracle of the five loaves and two fishes anticipates the miracle of the Eucharist. In the Eucharist we are fed God’s grace, a grace which is abundant for all those who receive it. The Eucharist is nourishing food which gives us the strength to live a full life. The Eucharist helps us to deepen our relationship with God and with others.

A reading from the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 14, 13-21)

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.  
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late;
dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages
and buy food for themselves.”
Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;
give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to me,”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over—
twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men,
not counting women and children. 

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel story is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and how do they affect you now?
  3. What can you share with others?
  4. What are those things, even if small, that you can do for your family and others?
  5. Watch this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnoPIuENS-I, and reflect on it. God has a plan for everyone, even if we feel incompetent; if we give God what we have, he can change these into something great
  6. How important is the Eucharist to you?
  7. Together with your family find the right time to read this gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare:
    a. The Bible reading from St Matthew (13, 24-43)
    b. A lit candle
    c. Cover the table with green cloth
    d. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  8. Go through the steps with your kid’s (2 age groups are being suggested)
  9. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  10. Be creative 😊
  11. Go to the Prayer Spaces section to continue praying as a family

“In this miraculous sign the incarnation of God and the work of redemption are interwoven. Jesus, in fact, “went ashore” from the boat to meet the men and women (cf. Mt 14:14). St Maximus the Confessor said that the Word of God made himself present for our sake, by taking flesh, derived from us and conformed to us in all things save sin, in order to expose us to his teaching with words and examples suitable for us” (Ambigua 33: PG 91, 1285 C). Here the Lord offers us an eloquent example of his compassion for people.”

In today’s Gospel we are going to hear about a great miracle. What is a miracle? Miracles are not magic. People who know how to do magic know exactly how to perform the trick and even know how other magicians perform their tricks. But not even the most intelligent person can explain how a miracle happens.

We will learn that God wants us to share.

  • A printout of the page below, one for each boy and girl in the family
  • Colours
  • A small gift
  • A picture of a big crowd of people (it is difficult for children of this age to image what 5,000 men, excluding women and children looks like, so the picture will show them that this is indeed a huge number)
PictureDownload

We ask:

Jesus wanted to feed all these people. But he had no food, so he asked if anyone could share any of the food he had.

We ask (after the children give their replies, the adults can answer the questions too):

Jesus asked the apostles to share the five loaves and two fishes with all those people. How did the apostles feel?

When the apostles were ready to share the food, Jesus was pleased with them for not wanting to keep the food for themselves, then something great happened, because everyone ate as much as he wanted!

Jesus wants us to share with others. Sometimes we share our food or sweets, other times we share our time, when for example we help in the house or play with our brothers or sisters, even if we do not feel like. During this week, with the help of our parents, we will think of how we can share with others. Every time that we share, our parents will give us a picture of bread or fish. If we are very good, we’ll collect five loaves and two fishes. Let’s see who will collect them first!

A note to parents: cut out the pictures of the loaves and fishes. Every picture has something the children may do, you may change these if you want. When they collect the five loaves and two fishes, give them the small gift. They may colour the loaves and fish.

Let us remember that it is not easy for the children to share, so it is important to praise them for their good deeds. Also it would help them to know about the times when we share. We do not tell them about our good deeds to be boastful, but rather for them to learn.

Jesus, you know that it is not always easy for us to share with others. Help us to love others and be able to share with them, the things we have.

As in previous weeks, the Prayer Corner helps us to better understand the gospel message.

During the last few Sundays Jesus was talking to us using parables, today he will talk to us through a miracle. Can you name some of the miracles of Jesus?

What is a miracle? Miracles are not magic. Magicians can explain exactly what is happening; but no one, no matter how intelligent he is, can explain a miracle.

We will learn that

  • God wants us to share
  • In the prayer of St Francis (see 16th Sunday) we say: “it is in giving that we receive”, indeed God gives us more than what we give
  • Jesus gives himself as food in the Eucharist

Materials Needed:

  • A printout of the page below, one for each boy and girl in the family
  • A pencil
  • Colours

We ask:

  • What was today’s reading about?
  • Do you think we would have managed to feed all those people with five loaves and two fishes?

We know that we are to share. What can we in fact share with others? (apart from the obvious examples of food, sweets and giving money to the poor, help the children to realise that they can share their time and their talents. As parents we need to help. If for example our children have a good voice, apart from involving them in competitions, we can encourage them to take part in the parish choir and take part in philanthropic concerts).

  • Can you imagine, how the apostles felt, when Jesus asked them to give the people food?
  • What did Jesus do with the bread and fish, before giving them to the apostles to distribute to the people? (pray)
  • Does this remind you of another time, when Jesus did something similar? (the Last Supper)
  • Does it remind us of a prayer which is said during mass? (the Eucharistic Prayer)

That day, Jesus healed the sick, he taught the people and gave them to eat. Today Jesus still does the same things. During mass, he teaches us, he heals us from our sin, he forgives us and give us to eat. The food he provides, through the Eucharist, is food which gives us strength and courage to make good choices.

The way Jesus does his Maths is very strange. When in Maths we have to share something, we need to divide, like for example we share a cake among ten persons. But instead of dividing, Jesus multiplies, he multiplied the bread and fish! We are surely not able to do this. But we believe that when we do something good, Jesus will repay us in a big way, amongst other things, by sharing we will feel happy and we can also make new friends. Jesus is so generous that he does not divide the good that we do, but instead he multiplies it.

We ask:

  • What can we share?

During the last few months, we spent a lot of time inside because of the Corona Virus, we heard and saw many people share with others. Can you name some of these actions? It could be that you yourselves or your family did some of these good deeds (the doctors and nurses helped the sick, some did not even go home to protect their families, a number of parishes and groups provided food for those who lost their job or could not go out of their homes, many families did the shopping for their relatives or elderly neighbours, many children called their grandparents so that they did not feel alone).

After this discussion, we give the children the cut outs of the five loaves and two fishes. On each one (on the back) they write one good deed that they will do (for example, clear their room). They give the card to their parents or person concerned (if the card says, clearing the bedroom, they give it to their parents). It does not stop here! The card is given and the deed has to be carried out. The pictures of the loaves and fish may be coloured in. Whilst they are doing the colouring, we can listen to Loaves and Fishes or Five Loaves and Two Fishes (some explanation of certain words needs to be done).

Jesus we would like to share with others, but we do not always feel like doing this, sometimes we also find it difficult to share. But from some loaves of bread and some fish you managed to give a whole crowd of people to eat. Help us to make the first step, help us to overcome our difficulties of sharing, we believe that then you will do great things with our little bit of giving.

We read Psalm 145:

I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.

All your works praise you, Lord;
    your faithful people extol you.

They tell of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might,
so that all people may know of your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
    and faithful in all he does.
The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever.

As in previous weeks, the Prayer Corner helps us to better understand the Gospel message.

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.