We have the perfect amount

The texts today from the Roman CatholicLectionary describe episodes which are specific and which prompt us to reflect on broad principles important to our lives as believers. Friar Jude Winkler explains how the eventual destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians is linked in Jewish belief to the actions of Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom. He built altars in Dan and Bethel where God could be worshipped by the people of his kingdom. This would prevent them from going to Jerusalem and being seduced by the great city into reestablishing loyalty to the dynasty of Solomon. The broad principle of where is God worshipped is our reflection. Friar Jude suggests that there were many hill top locations in the land, at the time of Jeroboam, where people could go to experience closeness to God. We struggle today with the need to attend Church. We can find God at the seashore, in the woods and at the mall. The nature of the gift of Presence in our Eucharistic gathering is proclaimed by Don Schwager as the intimate union with Christ. He describes the feeding of the four thousand in the Gospel of Mark today as a prefiguring of the Eucharistic celebration. The significant symbolic meaning of the location of this nature miracle in pagan territory and use of the number seven in relation to the fish and the left over baskets is explained by Friar Jude as the perfect food (seven is the perfect number) offered to the entire world through the seven remaining baskets. Kyle Lierk of CreightonUniversity is reminded of the deep hospitality of poor people who invited him to come and eat when they had very little. Our food and possessions are for sharing. We have the perfect amount right now to give to others. When we call and invite others to share we present the love and compassion of Jesus that works miracles.