＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Jeremiah 28:1-17                        

 

Ps 119:29, 43, 79, 80,95, 102

Lord, teach me your statutes.

  

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊      

Matthew 14:13-21

 On hearing this, Jesus set out secretly by boat for a secluded place. But the people heard of it, and they followed him on foot from their towns.   When Jesus went ashore, he saw the crowd gathered there and he had compassion on them. And he healed their sick.

Late in the afternoon, his disciples came to him and said, “We are in a lonely place and it is now late. You should send these people away, so they can go to the villages and buy something for themselves to eat.”

 But Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat.”   They answered, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fishes.”   Jesus said to them, “Bring them here to me.”

Then he made everyone sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fishes, raised his eyes to heaven, pronounced the blessing, broke the loaves and handed them to the disciples to distribute to the people.   And they all ate, and everyone had enough; then the disciples gathered up the leftovers, filling twelve baskets.  About five thousand men had eaten there besides women and children.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Healing Touch

Though we are living in an era where touch is viewed with suspicion and fear- be it due to the stories of abuse or the pandemic-human touch does heal physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Some cultures have the tradition of children touching the feet of their parents and teachers to seek their blessing and the latter blessing them by laying their hands on their heads.

 

How moving a sight it is!”Jesus laid his hands on each one and healed them.” Nothing more was necessary for Jesus to do than lay his hands gently on them and whisper s prayer. We can do the same and heal those around us as well: a gentle hand on the shoulder or a warm hug when someone is hurting, a pat on the back when someone does something good, laying of our hands and a prayer over those who are sick- these gestures do in credible miracles in their lives.

 

"God is displeased at the diffidence of souls who love Him sincerely and whom He Himself loves."

                                                                                                                  〜〜〜  ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI  〜〜〜