11 February, 2023 | Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes | Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time | World Day of the Sick

 Gospel Reading : Mk 8:1-10

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.

Reflection:  

At an ordinary human level, we are given a glimpse of Jesus’ tender concern for the crowd. They have left their homes – followed him  – and remained with him for days. The feeding of the crowds continues today. Jesus feeds us with his Word and with his body and blood at the Eucharist. His Word is the truth that enlightens our minds and sets us free. His body is our food for the journey of life, drawing us into the closest tender intimacy possible. Today marks the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in 1858, to St Bernadette in Lourdes. She said to the little girl, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Since then Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and many cures and conversions have taken place through the intercession of Mary. The message of  Mother Mary is a call to personal conversion, prayer and charity. 

Activity:  

Give thanks today for the favours you received from Mother Mary. In what way do we spread and share the Good News of God to everyone?  Say a phrase, a word, or a sentence, to express your gratitude to her. 

Optional Memoria : Our Lady of Lourdes

Jn 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,

and the mother of Jesus was there.

Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.

When the wine ran short,

the mother of Jesus said to him,

"They have no wine."

And Jesus said to her,

"Woman, how does your concern affect me?

My hour has not yet come."

His mother said to the servants,

"Do whatever he tells you."

Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,

each holding twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus told them,

"Fill the jars with water."

So they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them,

"Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter."

So they took it.

And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,

without knowing where it came from

(although they who had drawn the water knew),

the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,

"Everyone serves good wine first,

and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;

but you have kept the good wine until now."

Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee

and so revealed his glory,

and his disciples began to believe in him.