Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

18th Sunday of the Year – August 2, 2020

Readings: Isaiah 55:1-3; Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:8-9,15-16, 17-18; Rom 8:35,37-39  & Gospel Matthew 14:13-21.

Theme: A Thirst for God!

Sunday Synopsis

The first reading transports us to the time of the Prophet Isaiah who charges the Israelites to come and relish food and drink at no cost. What is more, in the second reading, St. Paul insists that nothing can come between us and the love of God in Christ Jesus. Amidst a world of tempting appetites for satisfying mundane thirsts, the message of the gospel which records the feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fish, urges us to watch out for spiritual delights as we thirst for righteousness through an ardent desire for the Word and Sacraments.

 

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, in a world where people thirst for material possessions, power, mundane satisfaction of the flesh and wetting of appetites with lavish dishes and cozy wines, Jesus invites us to crave for spiritual delights. Our liturgy entitled “A Thirst for God” shall scan through the readings in search of appropriate pastoral lessons.

 

Summary and Background of the Readings

The first reading (Isaiah 55:1-3) invites the people of Israel to come to the waters and enjoy food and drink without charge. The Prophet Isaiah assures that there is plenty wine and milk for the invitees. He queries those who waste money on what is not bread and labour for what does not satisfy. Changing the narrative of a lavish life on mundane feasts, he urges the people to oblige the Lord so that their souls might live. He further assures that the Lord would establish an everlasting covenant with them even as he demonstrates the steadfast love he promised through their Patriarch David.  

In the second reading (Rom 8:35,37-39), St. Paul dares the faithful on what can separate them from the love of Christ – He asks: Is it tribulation or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness or peril or sword? Paul answers while affirming: “In all these, we are more than conquerors through Christ. He goes ahead to emphasize that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, not things present, nor things to cone, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

The gospel (Matthew 14:13-21) relates the feeding of the five thousand men aside from women and children. It recounts how Jesus acted as a compassionate saviour who did not want to send the people home hungry as some might collapse on the way. As such, he asked his disciples to give them something to eat. They supplied five loaves and two fish. He looked up to heaven, blessed, broke and gave them to the disciples who fed the crowed. We are told that they were satisfied and 12 baskets full of the leftovers were gathered.     

 

Pastoral Lessons

1. Thirst for Righteousness: By inviting us to come to the waters even if we have no money, the Prophet Isaiah wants us to thirst for righteousness which does not require any cost - Instead of merely satisfying our physical thirst on food and drink, strengthened by the Eucharist, we are charged to hunger and thirst for righteousness through an inner longing for holiness and moral rectitude.

2. Thirst for Justice: By saying why spend money on what is not bread and labouring on what does not satisfy, Prophet Isaiah invites us to invest in breaking down the barriers of racism, classism and injustices everywhere – Our thirst for justice must go beyond Black Lives Matter to elicit a strong determination to ends all forms of discrimination and prejudices that are hurting. Like Archbishops Oscar Romero and Hilder Camara, we are charged make a preferential option for the poor through a righteous indignation for the vulnerable like the women and children who were excluded from the reportage of those that were fed in the gospel.  

3. Thirst for Peace: By keeping the lines of communication open with those who hold different values from us or our perceived enemies, the Eucharist is able to make us thirst for meaningful dialogue and sustainable peace – Although some parts of Southern Kaduna and Zamfara have not known peace recently because of activities of suspected killer-herdsmen and armed bandits, we are charged to thirst for peace in genuine terms while remembering that peace is a consequence of justice.

4. Thirst for Heaven: By challenging the Christian not to allow tribulation or distress, persecution or famine, nakedness or peril, sword or death, principalities or anything created to separate us from the love of God, St. Paul reminds us to shut the door for anything that would come between us and the love of God bearing in mind that our goal is heavenward.

5. Thirst for Charity: By asking the disciples to supply the elements for the miracle, Jesus charges us to thirst for charity which in the words of Archbishop Hilder Camara does not only give food to the hungry but asks why they are hungry – this thirst challenges those in authority and capitalists to redistribute the earth’s resources to end hunger and starvation especially in Africa and some parts of Asia.

6. Thirst for Lost Souls:  By gathering 12 baskets which represents the 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles and the number for completeness, the gospel urges us to seek for those who are lost because Jesus does not want anyone for whom he has shed his blood to be lost. 

7. Thirst for a Better Ecosystem: By collecting the remnants, Jesus wants us to care for the environment which speaks to the heart of global warming that depletes the ozone layer – We are charged to be environmentalists who should work for a better ecosystem that is clean, green and habitable for human beings and animals.    

 

Summary Lines

1. The first reading (Isaiah 55:1-3) invites the people of Israel to come to the waters and enjoy food and drink without charge.

2. In the second reading (Rom 8:35,37-39), St. Paul dares the faithful on what can separate them from the love of Christ

3. The gospel (Matthew 14:13-21) relates the feeding of five thousand men aside from women and children.

4. It recounts how Jesus acted as a compassionate saviour who did not want to send the people home hungry.

5. He looked up to heaven, blessed, broke and gave them to the disciples who fed the crowed.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, spiritual writers like Theresa of Avila have always insisted that for us to rise beyond the demands of the flesh, we must get rid of rodents from the mansion such as excessive desire for wealth; craving for raw power, lust and stomach-infrastructure. The meat of our liturgy is, only God can satisfy a thirsty soul. Ironically, we spend so much effort to earn money only to spend on what does not last. Conversely, Jesus invites to come and chop and drink free of charge. May the Holy Spirit minister to us to choose wisely the things of this world so as to give God his due through patronizing the Word and Sacraments. Happy New Month!