Sustained and Supported

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today nudge us to test situations for alignment with the Will of God even as we are open to responding with our talents to address the needs and hunger of those less fortunate.

Loaves and Love

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents a question if God is not the origin of this movement.

* [5:34] Gamaliel: in Acts 22:3, Paul identifies himself as a disciple of this Rabbi Gamaliel I who flourished in Jerusalem between A.D. 25 and 50.

* [5:36–37] Gamaliel offers examples of unsuccessful contemporary movements to argue that if God is not the origin of this movement preached by the apostles it will perish by itself. The movement initiated by Theudas actually occurred when C. Cuspius Fadus was governor, A.D. 44–46. Luke’s placing of Judas the Galilean after Theudas and at the time of the census (see note on Lk 2:1–2) is an indication of the vagueness of his knowledge of these events. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 27 asserts boundless hope that God will bring rescue.

* [Psalm 27] Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:1–6; 7–14) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Ps 27:1–3), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the Temple, protection from all enemies (Ps 27:4–6). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:7–12); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3). (Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John presents Jesus' Multiplication of the Loaves.

* [6:1] [Of Tiberias]: the awkward apposition represents a later name of the Sea of Galilee. It was probably originally a marginal gloss.

* [6:5] Jesus takes the initiative (in the synoptics, the disciples do), possibly pictured as (cf. Jn 6:14) the new Moses (cf. Nm 11:13).

* [6:6] Probably the evangelist’s comment; in this gospel Jesus is never portrayed as ignorant of anything.

* [6:7] Days’ wages: literally, “denarii”; a Roman denarius is a day’s wage in Mt 20:2.

* [6:9] Barley loaves: the food of the poor. There seems an allusion to the story of Elisha multiplying the barley bread in 2 Kgs 4:42–44.

* [6:10] Grass: implies springtime, and therefore Passover. Five thousand: so Mk 6:39, 44 and parallels.

* [6:13] Baskets: the word describes the typically Palestinian wicker basket, as in Mk 6:43 and parallels.

* [6:14] The Prophet: probably the prophet like Moses (see note on Jn 1:21). The one who is to come into the world: probably Elijah; cf. Mal 3:1, 23. (John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Eileen Wirth comments that during Vietnam, peace activist Daniel Berrigan S.J., asked himself if he was drowning in bad news because he was failing to be good news. We should start our journey back to hope by asking how we can become “good news” to others. Since cruelty  seems to motivate  the treatment of migrants,  the poor, people of color and people with disabilities, how can we combat it?

Jesus told us to welcome the stranger and to care for the least of our brothers and sisters. If we believe this, we must actively obey these commands.  The possibilities are endless.  If you’re upset about the defunding of food banks, increase your donations or volunteer.  Support clinics serving people losing health care funding. Get involved with homeless shelters, services to children, schools and libraries – wherever you can make a difference. Get political if you choose but above all, don’t be a spectator while people suffer. (Wirth, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “God enables us,” by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.

"In rendering service to the grace of God, we are not only made subject to our King through obedience but are even joined to him through the will. If we are of one mind with him (willing what he wills, disapproving of what he disapproves), he himself will bring us victory in all our battles. He who has given the 'will' will bestow also the ability. In this way can we 'cooperate' with his works, speaking that prophetic utterance in the exultation of faith: 'The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?'" (excerpt from Sermon 26,4,2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 5:34-42 asks how can we know if we are on the right track when it comes to understanding God’s will? We can follow Gamaliel’s example. We can acknowledge the limitations of our fallen, human ideas and approach puzzling situations with humility and caution. We can pray, “Lord, help me to know your heart and your will in this situation.

Whatever happens, be assured of this: the Lord is glad that you asked! He is glad that you are taking steps to understand him better. And he’s even more glad that you’re not trying to tell him what to do! He knows it means that you are growing in the way of wisdom—the same wisdom that Gamaliel had.

“Lord, show me how to listen patiently for your direction. Jesus, keep me from ever fighting against you!” (Meditation on Acts 5:34-42, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the advice of Gamaliel, a celebrated rabbi who was a teacher of Paul, that the Sanhedrin should not do anything in concern for the Will of God. The details of the feeding of the multiplication of the loaves is the fourth sign (cf. note on Jn 5:1–47). It is the only miracle story found in all four gospels (occurring twice in Mark and Matthew). Friar Jude reminds us of the resonance of the Gospel with Psalm 23, the Didache instruction on the celebration of Eucharist, and the response of Jesus to being misunderstood as a “problem solver”. The video series “Chosen” presents a thoughtful and human response presentation of this event in Jesus ministry. 

Brian McLaren considers Francis of Assisi’s celebrated affinity for nature. Saint Francis is probably best known for the “Canticle of the Sun,” the song of praise he wrote in 1225. Sister Joan Brown, former executive director of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, responds to McLaren’s question: “What does it mean for a person to be a Franciscan and to feel themselves part of a Franciscan movement?”

One of the things that appealed to me about the Franciscan life is that it’s a life of prayer and action, action and prayer, back and forth, one feeding the other…. I started down the path of becoming a Secular Franciscan [2], and I thought, I’m going to do this prayer and then I’m going to take action. Then I realized there was … something far more basic, which was my simply being in the present moment and seeing the humanity of every person in front of me and seeing the living earth. I realized I’d gone my whole life sort of objectifying and categorizing, hardly seeing living things. I was seeing them as things. I was seeing people in categories. I had to develop a whole new awareness, an ability to respond and live in the present moment, so that I could be open to what is mine to do.  (McLaren, n.d.)

We are called to prayer and action that will make Present the love, compassion, and mercy of Christ in our response to be signs of Providence meeting the needs of the people.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5?34 

John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?1 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). A Franciscan Perspective. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-franciscan-perspective/ 

Meditation on Acts 5:34-42. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/05/02/1265891/ 

Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/27?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Miraculous Sign of Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=may2 

Wirth, E. (2025, May 2). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/050225.html 

Fasting and Fixing

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that our lamentation over the darkness in the world is the starting point for our resolve to work with Christ to return to a path of justice and care for our world.

Resources to Restore

The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah contrasts False and True Worship.

* [58:1–5] The prophet is commanded to condemn the formalism of the people, specifically their hypocritical fasting.

* [58:6–12] Fasting is not genuine without reforming one’s way of life. A true social morality will ensure prosperity. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 58 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 51 is a prayer for Cleansing and Pardon.

* [Psalm 51] A lament, the most famous of the seven Penitential Psalms, prays for the removal of the personal and social disorders that sin has brought. The poem has two parts of approximately equal length: Ps 51:3–10 and Ps 51:11–19, and a conclusion in Ps 51:20–21. The two parts interlock by repetition of “blot out” in the first verse of each section (Ps 51:3, 11), of “wash (away)” just after the first verse of each section (Ps 51:4) and just before the last verse (Ps 51:9) of the first section, and of “heart,” “God,” and “spirit” in Ps 51:12, 19. The first part (Ps 51:3–10) asks deliverance from sin, not just a past act but its emotional, physical, and social consequences. The second part (Ps 51:11–19) seeks something more profound than wiping the slate clean: nearness to God, living by the spirit of God (Ps 51:12–13), like the relation between God and people described in Jer 31:33–34. Nearness to God brings joy and the authority to teach sinners (Ps 51:15–16). Such proclamation is better than offering sacrifice (Ps 51:17–19). The last two verses express the hope that God’s good will toward those who are cleansed and contrite will prompt him to look favorably on the acts of worship offered in the Jerusalem Temple (Ps 51:19 [20–21]). (Psalms, PSALM 51 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus addresses the Question about Fasting.

* [9:15] Fasting is a sign of mourning and would be as inappropriate at this time of joy, when Jesus is proclaiming the kingdom, as it would be at a marriage feast. Yet the saying looks forward to the time when Jesus will no longer be with the disciples visibly, the time of Matthew’s church. Then they will fast: see Didache 8:1. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Kent Beausoleil, S.J. comments that Lent is a time that asks us to accept the responsibilities of being an assembly of human beings, called to love ourselves and others divinely, with that same spirit of love and merciful justice that is of God.  

One of the truths of our human existence is that despite our human propensity to make mistakes, fail, sin, our God loves us no matter what.  We are loved sinners.  Too often though, our pride and hubris keeps us from being humble before God.  We can feel that God made this huge mistake and we are not loveable.  Or we think we are SO loveable, so perfect, that our ego has deemed equality with God something indeed we can grasp at.  Either position we put our will before God for they push God out of the equation.  First, being unlovable, God is wrong.  Second, being so great, there is no need for God. (Beausoleil, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “True fasting”, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 AD.

"All the endeavors for fasting are concerned not about the rejection of various foods as unclean, but about the subjugation of inordinate desire and the maintenance of neighborly love. Charity especially is guarded - food is subservient to charity, speech to charity, customs to charity, and facial expressions to charity. Everything works together for charity alone." (excerpt from Letter 243, 11) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 58:1-9 that our fasting is not meant to change God. He never changes anyway! Rather, it’s meant to change us. And it does that by helping us experience a small measure of Jesus’ suffering. If we undertake a fast—or any other kind of self-denial—with the intention of drawing closer to the Lord, we’ll come to a deeper appreciation of what he endured on the cross for our sake. We’ll see that, just as we can break our fast any time we want, Jesus could have ended his suffering at any point. But he didn’t. He loved us too much to throw in the towel. He was too committed to saving us from sin.

As you take up the call to fasting this Lent, fix your eyes on Jesus, the crucified Bridegroom. Tell him that you want your acts of self-denial to make you more like him.

“Jesus, help me to follow you to the cross!” (Meditation on Isaiah 58:1-9, 2025)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the questioning in trito Isaiah about the contrast between the promises in deutero Isaiah and the desolation encountered by the people returning to Jerusalem after the Exile in Babylon and the need to embrace justice, help the poor, and release the oppressed. Jesus explains about the lack of fasting of the disciples when the Bridegroom is with them. Friar Jude reminds us of several reasons for fasting and encourages our generosity with time and treasure freed by our fast.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Mirabai Starr who shares what she learned about the nonviolent direct actions of Jesuit peace activist Father Daniel Berrigan (1921–2016). Inspired by conversations with her friend and iconographer Father William (Bill) McNichols, she reflects that many of his followers may not have known was that Daniel Berrigan was inconsolable. As a champion for nonviolence, Dan did not see a lot of evidence that the culture of war would ever wane. Nevertheless, he persevered. What else can a true prophet do? “One is called to live nonviolently,” he said, “even if the change one works for seems impossible. It may or may not be possible to turn the United States around through nonviolent revolution. But one thing favors such an attempt: the total inability of violence to change anything for the better.” [1] He also said, “Peacemaking goes nowhere and yet it must be done.” [2]

A prophet cannot know that all will be well, that those in power will wake up and mend the damage they have caused, and that peace will prevail. The mystic can never be certain that union with God will be the outcome of longing for God. They must rest in unknowing. Unknowing is not always comfortable. In fact, it can feel a lot like grief.  

And yet that emptiness, that waiting, that liminal space is sacred. It’s what distinguishes a prophet-mystic from a self-righteous activist or a spiritual narcissist. It is in the interior desert, where the landscape appears barren, that patience reveals the miracle of life teeming just below the surface. The more we mindfully observe what is, the more beauty comes into focus. There is nothing broken here, nothing to fix. Rather, the prophet-mystic practices sitting with reality as it is. From that space of quiet listening, we may perceive what is ours to do and tap into the vitality we need to do it. We take up our birthright of belonging and, in the spirit of the mystical Jewish teaching of tikkun olam, we mend the broken world and restore wholeness to the web of interbeing. (Rohr, n.d.)

We pause and ponder the brokenness that is threatening peace, order, and good government today and let the act of fasting increase our pursuit of love in the Spirit to be agents of consolation and change.

References

Beausoleil, K. (2025, March 7). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/030725.html 

Isaiah, CHAPTER 58 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/58?1 

Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?14 

Meditation on Isaiah 58:1-9. (2025, March 7). The Word Among Us. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/03/07/1222616/ 

Psalms, PSALM 51 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/51?3 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Sitting with Reality. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/sitting-with-reality/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Fasting for the Kingdom of God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=mar7