July 2023

In today’s gospel from Matthew 14:14-22, we hear the story of the multiplication of the five loaves. This story is unique in that it is featured and recorded in all four Gospels. However, the most profound meaning and explanation of this miraculous event in Jesus’ ministry, is that the multitude themselves understood the miracle in the wilderness as a messianic sign, for those gathered around Him were an image of the Messiah feeding His people, just like when God sent manna to satisfy His people when they escaped Egypt.

The Gospel Lesson for the 7th Sunday of Matthew (Matt 9:27-35), centers its attention on two blind men.

Today we hear the story of the Sixth Sunday of Matthew, where it recounts the healing of the paralytic whose friends brought him to Jesus on a bed. We have heard this story before in the Gospel from the Evangelist Mark, with much greater detail.

In today’s Gospel, from Matthew 8:28-9:1, we hear the story of the two men who were possessed by demons in the region of the Gedarenes. We know from the Gospel that the two men entreated Jesus to drive them out and send them into a herd of pigs that was grazing nearby.

In today’s Gospel, Matthew 8:5-13, we hear the story of the healing of the centurion’s servant by the Word of Jesus.