Heal Our Broken Hearts

Normally, Batman's Column is an unique and humorous way to look at the Sunday readings. However, after what occurred, it just doesn't seem quite right to have my furry buddy write his article as he normally would. Rest assured, Batman will be back next week with his take on the readings for the 18th Week in Ordinary Time. But it is still important to talk about the readings from this Sunday, especially since they show the continuity of God's plan of salvation. Elisha, successor to the great prophet Elijah, has the Lord work through him to have 20 barley loaves feed a hundred people, so much so that there was some left over. God not only feeds and nourishes His people in this reading from the 2nd Book of Kings, the Lord gives them more than what is required, an overabundance. That's what the Psalm speaks to when we proclaim, "The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs." That overabundance continues in John's Gospel, when we see our Lord feeding not just a hundred people but a great multitude - about 5 thousand men, not including the women and the children, with less food than was presented to Elisha. Jesus feeds them all in an even more spectacular display of His power and our Lord's desire to nourish us. All of these examples lead up to something even greater - God's gift of Himself, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist. This miracle occurs not just once, not just twice, but every single time we come to Mass. Unlike the barley loaves and the fish, the Eucharist gives us what we need for our lives here on earth, as well as strengthening us for our journey towards eternal life. And even though the homily may be uninspiring or the music bland or difficult to sing, the reader may stumble through Sacred Scripture and the poor altar servers look lost, we can never say that we're not being fed, as long as we have the Eucharist. So let the Lord feed us overabundantly and may our hearts be open to being fed. Let us take that nourishment with us as we love Christ and one another. Finally let us never take the Mass for granted and pray for more priests so that the People of God will never go hungry. 

God bless you all! 

Fr. Rob and Batman, da rectory doggo