Five Loaves and Two Fish

When I played for Mass this morning, I was glad that there’s a hymn mentioning barley loaves and fish, namely, “We Come with Joy,” a parody by Delores Dufner. You remember the story, how Philip wondered how so little could feed so many. My mind went to the 10^th National Eucharistic Congress scheduled for July 17-21 in Indianapolis. I can only imagine the hundreds of people involved in the preparation and logistics. Whether a keynote speaker or someone selling souvenirs or parking cars, everyone’s part will enhance this event whose purpose is to highlight the “source and summit” of our faith. The experience is beyond imagining in and of itself but also, like the feeding of the five thousand, the leftover fragments (the twelve wicker baskets full) will feed people’s hearts and minds for a long time after the event. Let’s pray that the Congress will enliven the religious culture of our nation and feed our spiritual hunger.