First Reading (1 Kings 12:26-32;13:33-34)
Reading from the First Book of Kings.
In those days, Jeroboam reflected to himself: “If things continue like this, the kingdom will return to the house of David. If this people continue to go up to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices, their heart will turn to their sovereign Rehoboam, king of Judah; they will kill me and turn to Rehoboam, king of Judah.”
After having reflected well, the king made two golden calves and said to the people: “Do not go up to Jerusalem anymore! Here are the gods that brought you out of the land of Egypt, O Israel.” He set one up in Bethel and the other in Dan. This became a sin, for the people would go in procession to Dan to worship one of the calves.
Jeroboam also built temples on high places and appointed men from the common people as priests, who were not Levites. And he instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the one celebrated in Judah. And he went up to the altar. He did the same thing in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And he established priests in Bethel for the high places he had built.
After this, Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but continued to take men from among the people and make them priests of the high places. Whoever wanted to could be consecrated and become a priest of the high places. This way of acting caused the house of Jeroboam to fall into sin and brought about its ruin and extermination from the face of the earth.
– The word of the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Mk 8:1-10)
— Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
In those days, there was again a great crowd and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples and said to them, “I have compassion 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 faint on the way—and some of them have come from a great distance.”
His disciples replied, “How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”
Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
— The Gospel of the Lord.
— Praise to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, I would like to begin our reflection with a question: have you ever felt hungry? I’m not just talking about physical hunger, but that deep hunger that we all experience in different areas of our lives. It’s a hunger that seeks satisfaction, a longing that cries out for something greater, something to fill the emptiness in our hearts.
We all have different ways of trying to satisfy that hunger. Some seek to fill it with material success, chasing after wealth and power. Others seek to satisfy it through relationships, in search of love and intimacy. Some still seek refuge in the relentless pursuit of fleeting pleasures, hoping to find happiness and satisfaction.
However, the Scriptures of this day invite us to reflect on what the true source of satisfaction is for our inner hunger. In the First Reading, we find the story of King Jeroboam, who ruled the kingdom of Israel after the division of the country. Jeroboam was afraid that his people would turn to the king of Judah and thus he would lose power himself. So, he made a fatal decision: he built two golden calves and told the people that they were their gods, turning them away from the true God, who had freed the people from slavery in Egypt.
This story shows us how dangerous it is to try to satisfy our hunger with idols, with things that lead us away from God. Jeroboam chose the easiest path, the path of idolatry, instead of trusting in the living God. He fed the people with lies, leading them to worship false gods, and this had devastating consequences. This story reminds us that when we seek to satisfy our hunger with passing things, we distance ourselves from the true source of life and love.
And it is precisely about this true source of satisfaction that the Gospel of this day speaks to us. We see Jesus, surrounded by a hungry crowd, who has been following him for three days, without enough food for everyone. Jesus, in his compassion, takes seven loaves of bread and a few fish, blesses them, breaks them, and gives them to the disciples to distribute to the crowd. And something incredible happens: everyone eats until they are satisfied, and there are still seven baskets full of leftovers.
This story is a powerful image of God’s abundance. While Jeroboam chose to offer golden idols to satisfy the people’s hunger, Jesus chose to offer himself, the bread of life that truly satisfies us. He offers a satisfaction that transcends the physical and reaches the depth of our souls. It is a food that nourishes, restores, and transforms.
Brothers and sisters, we are the hungry crowd following Jesus. In our daily lives, we experience this deep hunger, this search for meaning and purpose. But often, like Jeroboam, we fall into the temptation of seeking satisfaction in things that cannot truly fill us.
The world offers us golden idols in various forms. They can be idols of success, making us believe that our identity and happiness depend on titles and achievements. They can be idols of relationships, leading us to seek our fulfillment in other human beings, forgetting that only in God do we find true satisfaction. They can be idols of pleasure, deceiving us with the illusion that happiness lies in instant and ephemeral gratifications.
But the truth is that all these idols, all these false promises of satisfaction, leave us empty, dissatisfied, and hungry. It is only in Jesus, the true bread of life, that we find the fullness we long for.
By giving us the example of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish, Jesus invites us to trust in him and to recognize that he is the answer to our spiritual hunger. He calls us to set aside the idols that imprison us and to turn to him, the only one who can truly satisfy us.
But how can we apply this in our daily lives? How can we stop seeking satisfaction in passing things and turn to Jesus? Let me share some practical guidance:
First, we need to recognize our idols. Let’s take a pause and examine our lives. What or who has taken center stage in our hearts? What have we been eagerly pursuing, hoping to find satisfaction? Let’s identify these idols and recognize that they cannot truly fill us.
Second, we need to choose Jesus as the true source of satisfaction. He is always present, waiting for us. Let’s dedicate daily time to connect with him through prayer, reading the Word of God, and participating in the sacraments. Let’s allow his presence to transform our lives and nourish our souls.
Furthermore, we need to nurture our relationships with other followers of Jesus. Let’s find communities of faith, prayer groups, or ecclesial movements that help us grow in our faith and walk together on this journey towards fullness in Christ. Fraternal communion and mutual support are essential to remain steadfast in our quest for satisfaction in Jesus.
Finally, we need to be living witnesses of the satisfaction we find in Christ. Let’s show the world that there is an alternative to the false promises of happiness and satisfaction. Let’s live authentically, demonstrating love, compassion, and generosity. Let’s be models of the joy that comes from a life fed by the true bread of life.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus’ invitation to satisfy our hunger in his presence is an invitation to an abundant life, full of meaning and purpose. He calls us to set aside the idols that imprison us and to turn to him, the only one who can truly satisfy us.
May we respond to this invitation with open and confident hearts. May we seek satisfaction in Jesus, the true bread of life. May we share this good news with the world, inviting others to experience the fullness that only he can offer.
May God bless us and guide us on this journey of faith. May he grant us the grace to recognize the idols in our lives, to choose Jesus as the true source of satisfaction, and to witness his presence in all that we do. May we live in his abundance and share his grace with all around us.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
