Being a leader can be a great burden. It certainly was that for Moses. In today’s first reading from Numbers 11, Moses asks God, “Please do me the favor of killing me at once, so that I need no longer face this distress.” How sad.
In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 14, Jesus feeds the multitude. (Five thousand men, not counting women and children.) The disciples wanted Him to dismiss the people so that they can go and buy food for themselves. But Jesus says, “There is no need for them to go away.” So he takes five loaves and two fish, says a blessing and feeds everyone until they were satisfied. Afterward, they had twelve wicker baskets left over.
This act of Jesus prefigured the Church and the Eucharist. While Jesus multiplied the bread (Eucharist), he charged His disciples (priests) to go out and feed the people. How could they have know that upon Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension they would be doing the same thing, and their successors doing the same for 2000 years?
Father, we thank you for the gift of the Eucharist, and your loving priests, offering the Bread of Life to the people. May we always be grateful. Amen.
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