Today’s message could be summed up in psalm 145, “The hand of the Lord feeds us, he answers all our needs.” Each reading shows how carefully God feeds and cares for us, in an up-close and personal fashion. Elisha fed the crowd from twenty barley loaves. Jesus blessed a few loaves, and thousands were fed. Perhaps this seems far-fetched, but we read stories in the news about chefs taking the leftovers from fancy restaurants and feeding many people in a soup kitchen. As a schoolgirl, one of my favorite stories was “Stone Soup”, the tale of a couple of war-weary soldiers convincing the people of a frightened and starving little country village to bring out their meager supplies and share them to make a marvelous soup to feed the town. The second reading asks us to “Consider well our call.” How do we respond to those in need around us?

If we were to use one word to describe the Scriptures for today, it would be "compassion." In Jeremiah, God rails against those who have scattered the sheep, and vows to "gather the remnant" personally. We also hear the prophecy about the coming Messiah. In Ephesians, Christ is breaking down the walls of division between peoples and drawing them to be reconciled with God in peace. In Mark, Jesus calls the tire disciples away to rest and have some "me time," but even the crowds persisted. Jesus saw their spiritual hunger and neediness and was "moved with pity." All three situations involve looking beyond one’s own agenda to see the needs of others and respond. God models how to empathize with others. May we continue to learn to be kinder gentler and more caring for each other.

Mother Theresa challenge us to do ordinary things with extraordinary love. Basketball coach Jim Valvano said, “every single day and every walk of life ordinary people to extraordinary things.“ Sometimes we see extraordinary vocations, such as the child prodigy musician. But usually those whom God chooses to call our reluctant participants who either run from the call or ignore it Amos tells Amaziah “I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.“ He looked after sheep and punched holes and fruit for a living! Now he was being called to prophecy. In Mark‘s gospel of the apostles are sent out two buy two to begin their ministry. Paul takes it further, telling the Ephesians, “In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things.” This call goes out to all of us! How are you being called to be extraordinary this day?

In the Sunday Lectionary, the first reading is usually chosen from anywhere in the Hebrew Bible to tie together with the Gospel. Currently, the second reading is from Saint Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. Often the second reading is not so closely related to the day’s Gospel selection, because those books are read in a more continuous fashion from week to week. But today, all three of the scripture readings go together very well.

As always on Sundays in Ordinary Time, the Old Testament reading illumines today’s gospel. In the longer form Jesus performs two healings; in the book of wisdom proclaims our God the God of life, who “fashioned all things that they might be have being” and formed human beings in “the image of his own nature,” to be “imperishable” (Wisdom 1:14; 2:23). people of faith therefore choose to live gods “undying justice (righteousness”) (1:15) in this mortal life, thus beginning, even now, the undying life for which we were created. To choose otherwise to choose the other side: the devil in death 2:25. Mark presents the two healings as a story within a story, a “story sandwich,” a literary device that reinforces his message for those who originally would’ve heard not read the story. Mark wants to emphasize any central truth of his gospel: that Jesus does not perform miracles to compel faith, but rather that faith proceeds healing.

So we reenter ordinary time already knowing that Jesus is the son of God (see the centurion‘s words at the end of the Palm Sunday passion reading from Mark‘s gospel), the long succession of Sunday’s confronts us again with the question that each Christian community, each individual Christian faces continually throughout life: “who is this?“ (Mark 4:41), and prompts and “examination of conscience“ regarding the practical consequences of our response. this year‘s Gospel readings from Mark suggest that we find our answer in the cross and in the Eucharist. Today’s stark challenge to Jesus’ call to discipleship is thankfully balanced by the comfort we can take in relating – perhaps only too well – to the disciples’ fears. Thou we welcome Jesus in word and Eucharist Sunday after Sunday, don’t we all, from time to time during our lives’ “ordinary time,“ experience Jesus‘s “real absence”?

Today’s scriptures connect the towering cedars of Lebanon from the prophet Ezekiel to the mustard plant of the famous parable of Jesus. Both plants represent the kingdom of God. Both are also to be understood as symbols of the church, where "birds of every kind shall dwell" (Ez 17:23) and shelter in the cedar's branches, and the shade of the mustard plant's large branches provide dwelling for the birds of the sky. Even today’s psalm tells of the just one who is like a cedar flourishing in the house of the Lord.

In presenting the still-familiar four-fold "Shape of the Eucharist" — Jesus takes / blesses / breaks / gives (Mark 14:22) — Mark omits Matthew's specification of purpose "for the forgiveness of sins," and Luke's "for the remembrance of me." But Jesus does recall the covenant, Israel's liberation from Egypt's slavery. And could the disciples - or we - fail to recall that, in Mark's earliest verses, "Jesus sits at table with tax collectors and those known as sinners" (2:15)? Mark also emphasizes the Eucharist as our participation in Jesus' passion and pledge of our share in his future glory.

Astonishing is the term that Clement of Alexandria used in referring to the Holy Trinity. Today’s scriptures tell the astonishing stories, from Moses in the Old Testament to the end of Matthew’s Gospel, of how we mere humans are intended to be intimately associated with our loving God. We see in Deuteronomy that Moses reminds the new generation of Israelites of the “astonishing” fact that, even though the ancient world teemed with gods, their God was the only God, that “there is no other.” Saint Paul in the letter to the Romans write about those who follow the Spirit as being “sons” of God, which of course would make us brothers and sisters of Christ, and, as he says, “joint heirs with Christ.” Another astonishing statement! Finally, Christ bestows the Holy Spirit on the world as his continuing presence and force of divine revelation. How can we not be astonished?

Come Holy Spirit! Today we celebrate Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples and an all who are baptized. We also commemorate the birth of the church. Before Pentecost, the disciples remain hidden and uncertain; at Pentecost, those who were gathered were filled with the spirit and proclaim the wonders of the good news of Christ to all. The spirit guides us to the truth of Christ's love and mercy and strengthens us to live us disciples. Without the Holy Spirit, we would perish; with the Spirit, we have life to the full. Relying on the Spirit, we are given the grace to turn away from the many temptations that we face each day and prefer instead what is it good and holy. Come Holy Spirit Come!

There is a certain, sacred order to the way God envisions our place in the world. We are created inn love, for love. As disciples of Jesus Christ, God’s love is at the heart of all we are, have, and do. Peter was concerned that this holy order be restored following Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. Jesus’ selection of twelve apostles was significant for the Jewish people, a harkening to the twelve tribes of Israel.  In prayerfully discerning Matthias as the twelfth apostle, the bothers made certain that God’s holly order would prevail. Their witness ensured that Christ’s love would be shared and embraced to all the world and throughout time.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus likens our relationship with him to a plant with many Love. Songs and books, plays and artistic masterpieces have been created to convey the truth that love is real. As Christians, we know that love is of God. In laying down his life, Jesus pours out God’s selfless, sacrificial, undying love. Jesus opens the door to a new relationship between God and humanity, that of friendship, of intimate closeness. Jesus calls us to show this same love for others, knowing that in doing so, we fulfill God’s will. As the account of Peter, Cornelius, and all in his household attests, this great love of God cannot be contained by our preconceived notions of the way things are in the world.

In today’s gospel, Jesus likens our relationship with him to a plant with many branches. We, the branches, are called to remain so close to Jesus that we bear fruit, loving one another as Christ loves us. Saul for the fruit of his faith through powerful witness that drew others to Christ. And the branches that grew into the early church were extraordinarily fruitful. What is the fruit of your faith in Jesus Christ?