Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1505021
10 AUGUST 2023 | DENVER CATHOLIC M E D ITATI O N I imagine I am with Jesus, the disciples, and the crowd… I take a minute to imagine what I would see on the shore of the sea of Galilee, what I would hear, what I would smell… Just yesterday, Jesus fed the 5,000 by miraculously mul- tiplying the loaves and the fish. I imagine the anticipation and excitement of the crowd. They have come all the way across the sea to seek for Jesus, desiring to be fed again. I recall my own longing to be fulfilled, to be fed spiritually, and I can relate with the desire of the crowd. I hear Jesus address this crowd which has followed him… "I am the bread of life"... I notice the anticipation turn to questioning, to con- fusion. I imagine what may be going on in the minds and hearts of the crowd as they hear Jesus… I imagine the reac- tion of the disciples as they listen. I recall the times which my expectations of what God would do in my life were not met. I relate to the crowd's interior confusion, the seed of disappointment starting to take root. To this crowd who has come seeking another mirac- ulous meal and to me, I hear Jesus say, "...the bread that I will give is my flesh..." I take a moment to imagine the faces of the crowd, to see their reaction to this scandalous statement. This has gone beyond disappointment into offensive. I imagine the tone of voice in the crowd as I hear them respond, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" I look to the disciples and imagine what they are think- ing and feeling. Are they scandalized? Do they secretly wish Jesus would stop this teaching to preserve his follow- ing? As the crowd begins to fight amongst themselves, do they begin to fear for Jesus' safety? I reflect on how I can relate to the disciples. I consider the times I've been scandalized by what Jesus asks me to do, to say, to believe. I consider the modern-day crowd and how it reacts to the teaching of Jesus. I reflect on how I may have been tempted to ask Jesus to stop teaching on certain things due to the reaction of the crowd around me, due to the reaction of my family even. I reflect on my own anxiety and fear being associated with Jesus and his Church amid a hostile and quarrelling crowd around me. I watch as many make the decision to abandon Jesus. I take a moment to imagine Jesus' reaction, his facial expression… I hear Jesus say to the disciples…. to me… "Do you also want to leave?" I hear Peter respond, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life…" How do I respond? I conclude my time in prayer by sharing my authentic answer with Jesus. Join our Catholic brothers and sisters in making the life-affirming decision to save and heal lives as an act of compassion and charity. For information on organ, eye and tissue donation and to register as a donor, please visit www.DonateLifeColorado.org "Organ donation is a testimony of love for our neighbor." — His Holiness Pope Francis LOVE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR