Is 55:1-3; Ps 144(145); Rom 8:35,37-39; Mt 14:13-21
Second Isaiah encourages the Israelites exiled in Babylon by reminding them that God had not forgotten his everlasting covenant with them. They are still invited to turn to him and to enjoy the heavenly banquet in the end days. But they must “listen, and your soul will live”.
The Psalm praises the Lord’s care for creation: God – of his nature – must be “just in all his ways”, but he is also “kind and full of compassion”.
Paul has now arrived at the tremendous conclusion he has been working towards through these four chapters of his letter to the Romans: “nothing can come between us and the love of Christ”. We have been justified by our faith in the gospel. God is on our side. Jesus himself prays on our behalf. We can be certain that, no matter who we are, nor what we do, God never stops loving us. How difficult it can be to accept this! This is what God’s covenant means: we will never cease to be his people.
The Gospel shows how readily God provides for our needs, just as he provided the manna in the desert. The feedings of the multitudes give us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet to come. Foreshadowing the Eucharist, the disciples begin to take on some of Christ’s work.
(Is 55:1-3; Ps 144(145); Rom 8:35,37-39; Mt 14:13-21)
