The Catholic Calendar for Monday, August 2, 2004
Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop
St. Peter Julian Eymard, priest

Scripture from Today’s Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 28:1-17
Psalm 119:29, 43, 79-80, 95, 102
Matthew 14:13-21

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

Oh, what a compassionate God we have!

We’ll never know what went on inside the heart and mind of our Lord when he went away to a deserted place after hearing of the death of John the Baptist. Did He cry? Did He pray for John? Did He ask the Father, “Why?” We’ll never know.

But what scripture does tell us is that Our Lord has great compassion for all people. This is evident from His reaction to John’s death. But more so at the Lord’s action upon returning to the people. As He looked upon the thousands who had come in search of Him he took pity and saw what a lost flock they were. He healed them, He fed them.

We are called to be Christlike. We, too, are to be compassionate. We, too, are to heal the sick, feed the hungry, to the best of our abilities. The flock was lost two thousand years ago; they are lost today. It is time for us to answer our call now and tend to the flock with compassion, love and with the gifts the Father has given us.

- Don Claunch, SFO

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posted by joachim at 4:57 AM