Today’s Gospel draws us into the beauty of Our Lord’s human heart. It gives us another glimpse into His vulnerability and offers us, in our friendship with Him, the chance to give something back – a little compassion, a little love.
The story begins with grief. Jesus is heartbroken at the news of the death of His dear cousin, John. Not only was John gone, but the manner of his death was brutal and senseless. A world lost in sin and selfishness took the life of a good man for the sake of entertainment. Can you place yourself in Jesus’ shoes? Can you feel, even for a moment, the pain He must have felt?
“Lord, I’m so sorry that happened to You.” This simple prayer had never occurred to me before – sorrow for the everyday human sufferings Jesus endured, the same ones we experience, too. More than His Passion and Death, He also hurt in moments like these. He grieved the loss of His cousin. As I prayed with this Gospel, I found myself wanting to tell Jesus how sorry I was for His pain. He gives me so much – but do I ever console Him in return?
We do not often reflect on Jesus’ grief, but this Gospel invites us to do just that. Rabbi, Teacher – you always show us how to live through our human frailty. In your sorrow, You go to the Father. What should we do with our grief, our pain, our losses? Like You, we should bring them to the Father, in silence, in solitude, in trust.
A Heart That Is Always Expanding
“When He disembarked and saw the crowd, His heart was moved with pity for them, and He cured their sickness… ‘Bring them here to me.’”
Even in His sorrow, Jesus turns outward. His love is not selfish, it is self-giving. That is true love: a heart that makes room for others, even when it is hurting.
He sees the crowd and has compassion. His heart expands, like a mother’s heart does with each new child.
I need to feed you, need to heal you. I need to love you. And, I need to “look towards heaven” and bring your needs to my loving Father.
This is the love of Jesus. This is the love He invites us to imitate.
Hope
In the midst of this moment, the disciples once again miss the point. They urge Jesus to send the crowds away to care for themselves. After living with Jesus, they still do not fully understand. But here lies the hope: Jesus does not scold them. He does not shame them. Instead, in kindness, He shows them, once again, what love looks like.
That is hope for us, too. We may not understand today. That is okay. His disciples did not get it either. Yet Jesus patiently continues to love and teach. He stretches out His hand to us as if to say, “come sit next to me. I am here for you no matter what.”
Invitation
The Gospel ends with the familiar miracle of the Loaves and Fishes – a moment filled with Eucharistic suggestion. But even before the miracle, Jesus has already poured Himself out for the crowd. He set aside His own needs for ours.
We are the crowd.
We are the sick.
And, we are the hungry.
Not just then, but now, He is here -for us – every day, every hour.
He is inviting you now. Will you come?
