31 August 2010: ‘I have compassion for the crowd.’

“... there was a great crowd who obviously had nothing to eat. He called his disciples and said, ‘I feel compassion for these people, for they have been with me three days now, and have nothing to eat. If I send them to their homes hungry, they will faint on the way for some have come a long way’.

His disciples replied, ‘Where in a desert place like this could we get enough bread?’ He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’ ‘Seven.’

“Then he bade the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves and giving thanks, he broke them and gave to his disciples to distribute. They also had some small fish, so Jesus said a blessing and asked that these be shared as well. The people ate and were satisfied. Seven baskets full of fragments were collected. Those who had eaten were about four-thousand. Jesus sent them away.” (cf Mk 8:1-9)

How full of encouragement are the words, ‘I feel compassion ...’ It was so like the heart of Jesus, always watchful and alive to our wants, to our sufferings of soul and body. How strong is that thought!

‘They have now been with me three days.’ Our Lord, then, keeps an exact account of the time, the days and minutes we give to his service; ‘... some come from a great distance’. Not only does he reckon the time of our service, but weighs its merit, that he may one day reward it. What an encouragement! ‘If I send them away hungry, they will faint on the way.’

His solicitude extends even to our future which is hidden from us and which terrifies us so often. He sees ‘in regard to each of us’; what will be for our happiness. He sees the means of driving away what will do us harm, and of gaining what is advantageous and necessary for us. If required, he will work a miracle to procure it for us. The above incident proves this.

Interpreters point out many mysterious differences between the first and second multiplication of the loaves. First, the different ways our Lord acts towards the synagogue and the Church, between the faithful of the old law and the new.

In the first miracle, the old law was prefigured by the number ‘five’, signifying five books of the "Pentateuch" which contained it. At the second, the new law was figured by the number ‘four’, to signify the four gospels in which it is contained.

At the first, it was said that people sought Jesus because of the miracle. At the second, no mention is made of their motive, because Christians who live according to the Spirit should detach themselves from earth and be devoted to spiritual things.

At the first, only barley bread was given, the food of slaves; at the second, wheat bread, the food of children. At the first, there remained twelve baskets, which figured the twelve patriarchs of the old law. At the second, seven, which represent the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the seven Sacraments instituted for our nourishment in our journey towards eternity.

Let us admire the economy of the divine wisdom. Let us thank God for our being born children of the new law, and thus favored over the Jews. We possess the truth, they had but the shadow. We possess the Incarnate Word; they only had the promise.

Finally, we are fed with his body and precious blood; they had only the manna, which was but the type of it.

But if we enjoy greater advantages than they, God also requires from us a still greater sanctity. Are we sincerely striving to attain it?

Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp543-5

Faith, a powerful light

“In this society there is a terrible moral and religious void. Today all seem frantically directed towards material conquests: make money, invest, surround oneself with new comforts, live the ‘good life’. Few think also of ‘doing good’.

God, who should fill our life has become a very distant star, to which people look only at certain moments. People believe they are religious because they go to church; but outside they want to lead the same life as many others, marked by small or big deceits, acts of injustice, sins against charity; and thus they totally lack coherence.” (cf Albino Luciani, “Illustrisimi”, 1976, p179)

The answer lies in living a coherent life of faith. We should act as children of God everywhere. We should have the firm conviction that the Church is an inexhaustible source of truth, solely capable of filling our modern age’s ‘terrible moral and religious void’. Without these values society is at the mercy of aggressive elements and prey to a gradual dehumanization.

God is not a ‘distant star’ out of touch with mankind. He is a most powerful light who gives meaning and significance to all human affairs. We Christians, are the ones who must transform our world. Our entire life is for the Lord, and everything in it.

Let us ask Our Lady to give us the joy of knowing that we are children of God. She will help us realise our personal responsibilities in society at large.

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 5:265-7

Defeat

199 “If you are faithful you will be able to count yourself a conqueror.

“Even though you may lose some battles in your life, you will not know defeat. You can be sure that there is no such thing as failure if you act with purity of intention and with a desire to fulfil the Will of God.

“And then, whether you win or lose, you will always triumph in the end; you will have carried out your work with Love.”

200 “I am sure that God has listened to your humble and heartfelt plea: My Lord, I am not worried about what ‘others’ may say. Forgive me for my unworthy life. May I be a saint -- but it’s You alone I wish to please.”

Ref: cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”

Dedication of Our Lady of the Founders, at Constantinople. The Empress St Pulcheria erected this church, and gave it the girdle of Our Lady. A feast of this relic is kept at Constantinople, under the title of the 'Deposition of Our Lady’s girdle'. The French having taken this city, this precious treasure was carried off by Nivellon, Bishop of Soissons, and placed in the celebrated abbey of Our Lady, with a portion of the veil of that Queen of heaven. — Nicephorus, lib. iv. c. 8. “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; (http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html);(www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)

Placement of the Zone (Belt). Orthodox. During the reign of Emperor Arkadios, a relic was found in a household in Jerusalem, and brought to Constantinople, where it was placed in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in a place called the Chalkepratois. The Zone is associated with several miracles, including curing an incurable fatal disease from which Empress Zoe, wife of Emperor Leo, was dying in 486. Later, Empress Pulcheria had gold threads sewn into the Zone. In 1101, the Zone was moved for safe-keeping to the Monastery of Vatepedi on Mt Athos. (Source: George Poulos, Orthodox Saints, vol. 3). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)

Deposition of Our Lady's Girdle in Our Lady of Founders Church. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)