GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew 15:29-37

At that time:
Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,
went up on the mountain, and sat down there.
Great crowds came to him,
having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute,
and many others.
They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.
The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking,
the deformed made whole,
the lame walking,
and the blind able to see,
and they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus summoned his disciples and said,
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
for they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
I do not want to send them away hungry,
for fear they may collapse on the way.”
The disciples said to him,
“Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place
to satisfy such a crowd?”
Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish,
gave thanks, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.

The word of the Lord

The Miracles of the Tabernacle

In this Gospel we contemplate what Jesus does: to have compassion, to heal, and to feed. Is this not precisely what He continues to do today from every Tabernacle? That multitude, sick and hungry, is us — and the Heart of Jesus, hidden in the Tabernacle, looks upon us with tenderness, takes pity on us, and longs to heal and nourish us by giving Himself as our food. Jesus is alive, and He is eager for us to come to Him.

That bread which He multiplied in Galilee foretold this Bread which awaits us today in the Tabernacle — the only one that can also multiply the love within our marriage. What are we waiting for to go to Him?

Applied to married couples

Patricia: Alfie, sometimes I get anxious because I don’t know if I’m praying properly. At times I feel God’s presence, but at other times I don’t. Sometimes He gives me a light… but so often He doesn’t, and it’s as though my mind is blank and my heart is silent.

Alfie: Well, I think that means you’re on the right path. It’s normal to feel uncertain in prayer. It happens to me too. I don’t believe there are methods we can control… Besides, what does it matter? The important thing is what God is doing in our souls, isn’t it?

Patricia: Seen that way, you’re right. So placing ourselves in prayer before the Tabernacle is the best thing we can do. Perhaps we don’t feel anything, but God is at work — and that is our great treasure.

Alfie: Exactly. I think what matters is our disposition. We bring our loaves: our presence, our faith, our love, our fragility, and our perseverance… And the Lord will work the great miracle: the transformation of our hearts.

Patricia: Of course! They are the miracles of the Tabernacle. It reminds me of what we once heard: “I bring my almost nothing, and God brings His almost everything.” What a wonderful exchange! That God should transform our hearts is the greatest miracle that happens each day. Well then, let’s go and pray — we need many hours before the Tabernacle!

Mother,

You were the first Tabernacle in history, and you kept Jesus safe with your love. Lead us to Him, so that in this Advent we may embrace Him, kiss Him, and sing to Him… Come, Lord! We await You with all our hearts; we hunger for You. Mother of Hope, blessed and praised be you!