[2Kings; Psalm 144; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 6:1-15]

This Sunday is the Fourth World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. As .a Grandfather I consider it to be one of the biggest privileges in life to see and get to know my grandchildren. It also leads me to think about all the memories I have of my grandparents and to recognise how blessed I was to have had all four of my grandparents, un my life; up until I was in my mid-twenties. This year’s theme is taken from the words found in Psalm 74 “Do not cast me off in my old age”.[1] Cardinal Farrell, who announced the theme earlier this year, states that this psalm is a prayer for the elderly, many of whom are lonely. He says it is also a prayer for all Christians ‘who turn their heart to the Father and trust in His comfort’. The Vatican have also announced a Plenary indulgence for all of those who take part in the ‘Day’ and to those who visit an elderly person who lives alone.[2]

The Gospel used today is one which is very familiar to us. The feeding of the five thousand is known to Christians and also to people who do not believe in Jesus. For us, as Catholics, it prefigures the Last Supper and is an example of how Jesus can change the smallest of gifts or talents which we bring to Him; and multiply them. I was very fortunate to be given a book recently called ‘This Is My Body’, it was written by Bishop Robert Barron. If the rest of the book is as good as the first couple of chapters, then it is going to be a fantastic read. In the book Bishop Barron lists the feeding of the five thousand as one of the sacred meals found in the Bible which are intrinsically linked to the Eucharist. In his description of this particular sacred meal Bishop Barron says –“The hungry people who gather around Jesus in this scene are symbolic of the hungry human race, starving from the time of Adam and Eve for what will satisfy. In imitation of our first parents, we have tried to fill up the emptiness with wealth, pleasure, power, honour, the sheer love of domination, but none of it works, precisely because we have all been wired for God and God is nothing but love. It is only when we conform ourselves to the way of love, only when, in a high paradox, we contrive to empty out the ego, that we are filled. Thus, the five loaves and two fish symbolise that which has been given to us, all that we have received as a grace from God. If we appropriate it, we lose it. But if we turn it over to Christ, then we will find it transfigured and multiplied, even unto the feeding of the world. At the outset of the story, the disciples refused to serve the crowd, preferring to send them away to the neighbouring towns to fend for themselves. At the climax of the narrative, the disciples become themselves the instruments of nourishment, setting the loaves and fish before the people. Within the loop of grace, they discovered their mission and were themselves enhanced, transfigured.”[3]

The loop of grace is how Bishop Barron describes how we are to share the graces God gives us and how these graces are only fully revealed when they are shared with others. God’s graces are not to be kept for ourselves but shared out amongst those we encounter. This reminds me of my father-in-law, who always used to say that ‘money was made round, to go round’. He rarely had money, but when he did, he couldn’t wait to give it away.

How do we share the graces we receive? Do we recognise the times God calls us to serve? How do we respond?

If we are honest with ourselves, when was the last time we went out of our way to serve others? If it was recently, well done and thank you. If you struggle to remember, then please receive this as a personal challenge to do it.

Like many other grandparents I am blessed to be able to share some of the time I have been given with my grandchildren. I very much see these young children as gifts from God and I enjoy the time I spend with them. I am also aware, that most of the time, I seem to have far more patience with my grandchildren than I did with my children. Maybe patience is the grace I am given at this stage of my life; to help me to make happy memories for my grandchildren. This loop of grace which Bishop Barron spoke about is made visible for me when I think of the times I had with my grandparents, the patience they had for me, their generosity with their time, the love and care they provided for me have all helped to form me as a man, as a husband, as a dad and now as a grandad. As we celebrate this day for Grandparents and the elderly, I remember my grandparents and pray for their souls, and I think of the many people I am blessed to be able to visit in my ministry; and I thank God for the opportunity to be with them giving them a few minutes when they are not alone.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 1335: the miracle of the loaves and fishes prefigures the Eucharist
CCC 814-815, 949-959: sharing of gifts in the communion of the Church

Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life – Theme of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2024: Statement by the Prefect Cardinal Kevin Farrell (vatican.va)

Please keep in your prayers this week

  • The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
  • Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
  • Stephen Patterson and Zacharius Parambi as they are ordained to the Permanent Diaconate this weekend.
  • All the staff and pupils of our schools that they have a safe and healthy break over the summer holidays.
  • Parents who need to find useful things to occupy their children during the holidays.
  • The children who are normally on free school meals, that their parents are able to cope with the additional demands that times away from school bring and that they can access the help which is available to them.
  • The 5 children who will be Baptised this weekend: Sofia, maria, Leo, Mabel and Devina; may God bless them and their families.

Deacon Tony 26th July 2024

[1] Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life – Theme of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2024: Statement by the Prefect Cardinal Kevin Farrell (vatican.va)

[2] Decreto della Penitenzieria Apostolica in occasione della IV Giornata Mondiale dei Nonni e degli Anziani (vatican.va)

[3] Bishop Robert Barron, This is my Body – A Call to Eucharistic Revival, [The Incorporated Catholic Truth Society, London,2024]17.