29 July 2018

17^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings at Mass
1st: 2 Kings 4:42-44. 
Ps: 144:10-11,15-18. 
2nd: Ephesians 4:1-6
Gospel: John 6:1-15

He gave as was wanted to those who were sitting ready

Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee or of Tiberias and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover.

Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, ‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’ So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, ‘This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.

Signs of Mercy and Salvation

A saving and redeeming mission was the purpose of the miracles, as it was of the doctrine and life of the eternal Son of God. Their motive was mercy. Most of Christ’s miracles were works of mercy. They were performed not with a view to awe men by the feeling of omnipotence, but to show compassion for sinful and suffering humanity. They are not to be regarded as isolated or transitory acts of sympathy, but as prompted by a deep and abiding mercy which characterizes the office of Saviour. The Redemption is a work of mercy, and the miracles reveal the mercy of God in the works of His Incarnate Son (Acts 10:38).

Hence we can see in them a symbolical character. They were signs, and in a special sense they signified by the typical language of external facts, the inward renewal of the soul.
Catholic Encyclopedia, Miracle

THIS WEEK’S FEASTS
Mon 30 St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop, Doctor  
Tue 31 St. Ignatius Loyola, Priest 
Wed 1 St. Alphonsus Mary de’ Liguori, Bishop, Doctor 
Thu 2 St. Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop  Also, St. Peter Julian Eymard  
Sat 4 St. John Mary Vianney, Priest. Also BVM memorial 

Psalter week I

18^th Sunday OT:
1^st: Exodus 16:2-4,12-15
Ps: 77:3-4,23-25,54
2^nd: Ephesians 4:17,20-24
Gospel: John 6:24-35

The Conversion of Iñigo

St. Ignatius of Loyola was born in Spain in 1491 and his baptism name was Iñigo. He was a priest and went on to found one of the most successful missionary religious orders that the Church has seen, The Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He was also the author of the famous ‘Spiritual Excercises.’ As a youth he was quite dissipated until he joined the army. One day, while fighting against the French, a cannon ball broke his right leg and the healing process was long and painful. Meanwhile, since books about knights were not available, he read the lives of Christ and of the saints with his usual competitive spirit: “Suppose I were to rival this saint in fasting, that one in endurance, that other in pilgrimages.” Meanwhile, he was still thinking about chivalry, and service to fair ladies, but eventually he realised that the ideas of ranking among the saints strengthened him and gave him peace, while worldly thoughts made him uneasy and left him sad, this proved to be a grace form God.  One night as he lay awake, pondering these new lights, he had a vision of Our Lady with the Holy Child Jesus which filled him with reassuring sweetness, and loathing of his past sins. Everyone noticed the change in him as from then on he spoke of nothing but spiritual things. Iñigo had undergone a profound conversion.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us.

BOAT TRIP to Blue Lagoon Sunday 5 August, €22, €11 for kids, children under 5 free. Bus leaves at 12:30. Bring and share lunch. Call Kumari 96631888, or Rosalina 99279294. Fr. Fernando 99933130.

CARITAS Paphos Help us assisting the vulnerable in the Paphos area. Donations and prayers are always welcome. Call Wendy 9904 0294.

Mass Times HERE