Jesus performs a feeding miracle for the crowds that have been listening to him for three days. This practical point reminds us that we, too, are called to nourish body and soul for the basic needs of those around us.
Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment and simultaneously empowers him with the gift of hearing and speaking. Words have power to build up or tear down; our invitation today is to use the gift of speech for the glory and praise of God.
The faith expressed by the woman in the Gospel today was simple and direct…and because of this her child was healed. May her example inspire us to take the gift of faith we have been given and engage our lives with the power and insight of Jesus Christ.
Jesus describes the evil that can come from our hearts, reminding us that the battle is often within. As we strive to follow the Lord we turn from these sins and look to the Cross of Christ.
Jesus quotes Isaiah the prophet, recalling the need for the Lord to be at the center of our hearts. Once God is at the center, everything else we say and do fits into proper perspective.
Suffering, for all its challenges and burdens, is a part of human life. How do we face it? How do we find the strength and wisdom to keep going? When we bring our faith in Jesus Christ into the center of our lives we find the courage and conviction to continue on as the Lord guides us through this life to the life to come.
Jesus invites the disciples to rest after they return from their mission. It’s a good reminder that there is always more work than we can possibly accomplish; our task is to make sure that we balance our lives with the rest we need so that we can keep serving the Lord.
Mary and Joseph present Jesus in the Temple according the law of Moses where Simeon and Anna rejoice to see the savior of the world. Today’s feast invites us to look for the Lord in our lives and respond with a vibrant faith.
Just as Jesus sends the Twelve Apostles with his authority, so also the Lord sends us – empowered with his grace – to continue his mission in the world. We do it together; we trust in God; we are attentive to each opportunity; we let Christ work through us!
Jesus returns home with his disciples, but the people – limited by their thinking – cannot see him by the light of his ministry. The Lord’s rejection reminds us that we, too, have a community of our own…and we can either build it up or tear it down.