Jesus' Compassion for the Hungry - 《生命恩泉》 Fountain of Love and Life

在那些日子，有一大群人，沒有什麼吃的了。耶穌叫過門徒來，給他們說：「我很憐憫這批群眾，因為他們同我在一起已經三天，也沒有什麼可吃的了。我若遣散他們空著肚子各自回家，他們必要在路上暈倒；況且他們中還有些是從遠處來的。」門徒回答說：「在這荒野裏，人從那裏能得餅，使這些人吃飽呢？」耶穌問他們說：「你們有多少餅？」他們說：「七個。」耶穌就吩咐群眾坐在地上，拿起那七個餅來，祝謝了，擘開，遞給他的門徒，叫他們分開；他們就給給群眾分開。又有幾條小魚，耶穌祝福後，也吩咐把這些小魚分開。人都吃飽了，把剩下來的碎塊收集了七籃子。人數約有四千；然後耶穌遣散了他們，即刻同門徒上船，來到了達瑪奴達境內。
馬爾谷福音 8:1-10

Lambert Lombard (1505/1506–1566) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

在這天的福音中，我們再次讀到耶穌增餅的奇蹟。這是馬爾谷福音記載的第二個增餅奇蹟。上次是門徒先請求耶穌遣散群眾，讓他們去買東西吃。而這一次，福音記載耶穌主動跟門徒表示祂對群眾的憐憫。

耶穌憐憫群眾，不單關心他們肉體上的飢餓，也關心他們靈性上的飢餓。祂怕他們會在回家路上暈倒。耶穌是「道路」(若 14:6)。要走祂的道路，我們需要靈性上的食糧在路上滋養著我們。增餅奇蹟是耶穌建立聖體聖事和彌撒的預像。耶穌對門徒說的話，再一次引證祂賜給我們聖體聖血的心意。我們又會否珍惜參與彌撒和領聖體的機會呢？

耶穌透過門徒把食物分發給群眾，因此基督徒有責任令飢餓的人吃飽，不論是肉體上或是靈性上的飢餓。祈求天主轉化我們，使我們成為祂的工具，令眾人都得到飽飫。

這篇默想由生命恩泉文摘編輯小組撰寫，內容以下列文章為根據: Saturday of week 5 of Ordinary Time – Gospel

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people.

He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
Mark 8:1-10

In this Gospel reading, we come across the multiplication of the loaves and fishes again. This is the second of the two such miracles recorded in Mark. Last time, it was the disciples who first asked Jesus to dismiss the crowd, so that they could go to buy something to eat. This time, we read that Jesus summoned the disciples and said to them that his heart was moved with pity.

Jesus was filled with compassion for the crowd. He was worried about them being hungry, both physically and spiritually. He was afraid that they might collapse on the way. Jesus is "the Way" (John 14:6). To walk the road of Jesus, we need spiritual nourishment on the way. The multiplication of the loaves is a prefiguration of the institution of the Eucharist and the Holy Mass. What Jesus said to the disciples once again shows the love He has for us in granting us His body and blood. Do we treasure our opportunities in receiving the Eucharist and attending Masses?

Jesus did not give out the food directly to the people, it was distributed by His disciples. As the followers of Christ, we too, are obligated to feed the hungry, both physically and spiritually. May the Lord transform us so that we can be His instruments in feeding His people.

This reflection is prepared by the FLL Inspire editorial team as a digest of the following article: Saturday of week 5 of Ordinary Time – Gospel

Jesus’ Compassion for the Hungry

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