<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:tahoma, new york, times, serif;font-size:10pt"><div><font size="2"></font> </div><div><font size="2"></font> </div><div><font size="2"></font> </div><font size="2"><h3 class="post-title entry-title">The Bread of the Berith: The Readings of the
Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time </h3><div>
</div><div id="post-body-8594101589217732724" class="post-body entry-content">
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<div style="text-align: center; clear: both;" class="separator"><a style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; float: right;" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0zSSQPx792o/TjNbts06RuI/AAAAAAAAAMc/yRXBKNp56AA/s1600/black-forest-country-bread.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Holy
Mother Church serves up a rich fare for us in the Liturgy of the Word this
week.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We begin
with one of the most striking prophecies of the Book of Isaiah:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/isaiah/isaiah55.htm#v1"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Is 55:1-3</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Thus
says the LORD:</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">All you
who are thirsty,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">come to
the water!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">You who
have no money,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">come,
receive grain and eat;</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Come,
without paying and without cost,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">drink
wine and milk!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Why
spend your money for what is not bread;</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">your
wages for what fails to satisfy?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Heed me,
and you shall eat well,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">you
shall delight in rich fare.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Come to
me heedfully,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">listen,
that you may have life.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I will
renew with you the everlasting covenant,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">the
benefits assured to David.</span></div><a name="more"></a><br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Like
many oracles in the Book of Isaiah, the prophetic author provides very little
information about the time or place when this oracle will be fulfilled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In antiquity, the second half of Isaiah (chs.
40-66) seem to have been understood as a long description of the Messianic or
Final Age (the Latter Days).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This
oracle is an invitation to the thirsty, hungry poor to come to the LORD, who
will simultaneously: (1) provide them with a satisfying meal, (2) grant them
life, and (3) renew with them the Davidic covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hebrew
poetry operates on the principle of parallelism, whereby paired poetic lines (a
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bicola</i>) are mutually illuminating.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Thus,
the final verse of this reading is describing one action, not two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should read as follows:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I will renew with you the
everlasting covenant (Heb. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">berith
‘olam</i>),</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>that is, the covenant love assured
to David (Heb. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hasdey dawid
hane’emanim</i>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
“everlasting covenant” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">berith ‘olam</i>)
is nothing other than the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hesed</i> or
covenant love that was given to David (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hasdey david</i>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, the “everlasting covenant” is
a restoration or transformation of the Davidic covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hesed </i>(appearing here in the masculine
plural construct form <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hasdey</i>) is a
very important term in the Hebrew Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It designates the love appropriate for covenant partners, and is
frequently found in the near vicinity of the term <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">berith</i> and other words associated with a
covenant relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hesed</i> is arguably the most important
concept in the Book of Psalms, the canonical message of which is summarized by
the phrase, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, and his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hesed </i>endures forever” (e.g. Pss 100;
106; 107; 136).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The main
text of the Davidic covenant is widely understood to be 2 Samuel 7:4-17 (but see
also Psalm 89:1-37).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to this
covenant, David and his sons enjoyed the privileged status of Divine sonship and
were promised to rule over the entire earth.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Isaiah
55:1-3 foresees a coming age when the LORD will extend the privileges of the
Davidic covenant to all the poor of the earth who come to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arguably, this passage is an important but
often forgotten background text for the Beatitudes which we read some weeks
ago:</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;" class="FreeForm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Matt.
5:3</span></b><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman";'> “Blessed are the
poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;" class="FreeForm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">...</span></b><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman";'></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;" class="FreeForm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">5</span></b><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman";'> “Blessed are the meek, for they shall
inherit the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;" class="FreeForm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">6</span></b><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman";'> “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;" class="FreeForm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">...</span></b><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman";'> </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;" class="FreeForm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">9</span></b><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman";'> “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they
shall be called sons of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;" class="FreeForm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">10</span></b><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman";'> “Blessed are those who are persecuted
for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;" class="FreeForm"><br></div>
<div style="tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman";'>Aren’t the poor, the
hungry, and the thirsty the invitees of Isaiah 55:1-3?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And isn’t the Kingdom of Heaven (2 Chron
13:8), the entire earth (Ps 89:25-27), and divine Sonship (2 Sam 7:14; Ps 89:26)
the promises of the Davidic covenant?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><br></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Nonetheless,
Holy Mother Church pairs this OT text today in order for us to make the
connection between the promised covenant-bestowing meal and the Feeding of the
5,000.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Responsorial Psalm focusses our thoughts on gratitude for God’s provision of our
needs and the needs of all creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
light of the Eucharist we are celebrating, we should understand God’s provision
not only in a physical and material sense, but in a spiritual and sacramental
sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The deepest hungers of the soul
are satisfied by the living God: he answers <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all </i>our needs, even the most
profound.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in;" class="FreeForm"><u><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 248); font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/psalms/psalm145.htm#v8"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Ps 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Responsorial
Psalm</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">R. (cf.
16) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The hand of the Lord feeds us; he
answers all our needs.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The LORD
is gracious and merciful, </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">slow to
anger and of great kindness.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The LORD
is good to all</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">and
compassionate toward all his works.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">R. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers
all our needs.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The eyes
of all look hopefully to you,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">and you
give them their food in due season;</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">you open
your hand</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">and
satisfy the desire of every living thing.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">R. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers
all our needs.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The LORD
is just in all his ways</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">and holy
in all his works.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The LORD
is near to all who call upon him,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">to all
who call upon him in truth.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">R. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers
all our needs.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Second Reading is part of the ongoing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lectio continua </i>of Romans in this period
of the Church’s Lectionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although it
does not have explicitly Eucharistic themes, we do see in it a description of
God’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hesed</i>, his covenant
love.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in;" class="FreeForm"><u><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 248); font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/romans/romans8.htm#v35"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Rom 8:35, 37-39</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Reading
II</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Brothers
and sisters:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">What
will separate us from the love of Christ? </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Will
anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">or
nakedness, or peril, or the sword? </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">No, in
all these things we conquer overwhelmingly</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">through
him who loved us. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">For I am
convinced that neither death, nor life,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">nor
angels, nor principalities,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">nor
present things, nor future things,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">nor
powers, nor height, nor depth,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">nor any
other creature will be able to separate us</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">from the
love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hesed
</span></i><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">is a
specific kind of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not
infatuation,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>nor merely affection, nor
is it simply erotic<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>love, all it may
include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">eros </i>and indeed can and does
describe the relationship between husband and wife (e.g. Jer 2:2; Hos
2:19).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But most of all, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hesed </i>is a love of fidelity, a love that
does not fail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St. Paul beautifully
captures the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hesed</i> of Jesus Christ in
this passage of Romans.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Finally,
the Gospel:</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in;" class="FreeForm"><u><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 248); font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew14.htm#v13"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Mt 14:13-21</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Gospel</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">When
Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">he
withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">When he
disembarked and saw the vast crowd,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">his
heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">When it
was evening, the disciples approached him and said,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“This is
a deserted place and it is already late;</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">dismiss
the crowds so that they can go to the villages</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">and buy
food for themselves.” </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jesus
said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">give
them some food yourselves.” </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But they
said to him,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Five
loaves and two fish are all we have here.” </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Then he
said, “Bring them here to me, ”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">and he
ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Taking
the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">he said
the blessing, broke the loaves,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">and gave
them to the disciples,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">who in
turn gave them to the crowds. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They all
ate and were satisfied,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">and they
picked up the fragments left over—</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">twelve
wicker baskets full. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Those
who ate were about five thousand men,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">not
counting women and children.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Although
the text is not explicit, we are probably correct to assume these crowds were
made up of the common and poor people of the land, rather than the wealthy
elite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We here the themes from Isaiah
55--Jesus is providing a free, satisfying meal to the hungry and thirsty
poor.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But the
language Matthew employs is intended to remind us of another incident in Jesus’
ministry, in which he also “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">takes</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">loaves</i>,” “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blesses</i>,” “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">breaks</i>,” and “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gives</i>” them to the disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, this is language from the
narrative of the Institution of the Eucharist (Matt 26:26), which is indeed the
covenant meal promised by Isaiah 55.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Specifically, it is a meal which extends the covenant of the Son of David
to those who participate in it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew, as in the other Gospels as well, is an
anticipation, foreshadowing, and type of the Eucharist, the meal which along
truly satisfies and “answers all our needs.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is the meal by which we enter the Davidic Covenant, receiving the gift
of Divine Sonship and kingship over the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Out of his loving concern to provide this meal for us, Jesus endured
“anguish,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>distress, persecution,
nakedness, peril, sword,” and ultimately, death</span></div></div><div><a href="http://www.thesacredpage.com/2011/07/bread-of-berith-readings-of-eighteenth.html">http://www.thesacredpage.com/2011/07/bread-of-berith-readings-of-eighteenth.html</a><var id="yui-ie-cursor"></var></div></font><div> </div><div> </div><div><div><div><font color="#0000bf"><i><font face="comic sans ms"><div><em><font color="#0000bf" face="Comic Sans MS">Like a deer that longs for running waters so my soul longs for you, O God.</font></em></div></font></i></font></div><div><font color="#0000bf"><i><font face="comic sans ms">Ps 42:1</font></i></font></div><div><i><font color="#0000bf" size="1" face="Comic Sans MS"></font></i> </div><div><i><font color="#0000bf" size="1" face="Comic Sans MS"></font></i> </div></div></div></div></body></html>