Daily Mass Readings – Sunday, 25 July 2027

42 And a certain man came from Baalsalisa bringing to the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty leaves of barley, and new corn in his scrip. And he said: Give to the people, that they may eat.

43 And his servant answered him: How much is this, that I should set it before a hundred men? He said again: Give to the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the Lord: They shall eat, and there shall be left.

44 So he set it before them: and they ate, and there was left according to the word of the Lord.

R. (16) The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

10 Let all thy works, O lord, praise thee: and let thy saints bless thee.

11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom: and shall tell of thy power:

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

15 The eyes of all hope in thee, O Lord: and thou givest them meat in due season.

16 Thou openest thy hand, and fillest with blessing every living creature.

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

17 The Lord is just in all his ways: and holy in all his works.

18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: to all that call upon him in truth.

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

1 I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called,

2 With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity.

3 Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope of your calling.

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

16 A great prophet is risen up among us: and, God hath visited his people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias.

2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

3 Jesus therefore went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

4 Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand.

5 When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes, and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

6 And this he said to try him; for he himself knew what he would do.

7 Philip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little.

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him:

9 There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves, and two fishes; but what are these among so many?

10 Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would.

12 And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost.

13 They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten.

14 Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet, that is to come into the world.

15 Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force, and make him king, fled again into the mountain himself alone.

When the need before us seems greater than anything we possess, the Lord begins with what is offered in faith. Elisha’s small supply of barley becomes enough for many, and Jesus takes five loaves and two fish, gives thanks, and feeds a multitude until all are satisfied. The abundance comes from God, yet he chooses to work through a human offering and through the hands of his disciples.

This gift also creates a people. The crowd sits together, receives together, and the fragments are carefully gathered rather than wasted. In the same spirit, we are urged to live with humility, patience, gentleness, and charity, preserving the unity given by the one Lord and one Father. Christ truly visits his people, but he must not be reduced to someone who simply fulfills our earthly expectations; the crowd wants to make him king on its own terms, while Jesus withdraws. Faith receives his gifts while allowing him to remain Lord. What seems small in our hands—an act of service, a word of peace, a sharing of resources—can become part of his generous care for many.

Lord Jesus, you know the needs of your people before we can express them. Teach me to place what I have in your hands without measuring its worth or fearing that it is too little. Give me humility to receive, generosity to share, and patience to live in peace with others. Keep your Church united in one faith and one hope. Help me recognize your presence among us and follow you as you truly are, rather than asking you to serve my own plans. Gather the scattered fragments of my life and use them for your glory and the good of your people. Amen.