Moved with Pity
Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Mark 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.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Look at this Gospel! There is a message to learn here that we probably won’t hear very often in our wealthy parts of the modern world. Here, a massive crowd of people have followed Jesus away from their homes and have remained with Him for days listening to what He has to say. This crowd has abandoned everything to follow Him. Then their food runs out.
Today, we fear following God because we fear it’s not “practical” enough. We fear the food will run out. So we follow God to a point. We give money to a point. We help the sick to a point. We put our reputation on the line to a point. We operate this way because we don’t really trust that God will take care of us when we can’t take care of ourselves. But look at the Gospel: when the crowd can no longer help themselves, Christ Himself helps them. Christ knows their situation. Christ cares for their situation. Christ solves their situation. It’s no different with us. Christ knows, cares, and will help us. But He can only catch us… when we have faith to let go.
Together as a family pray a portion of the Rosary (i.e. – very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture above. (Optional – allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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