Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – 28th July 2024

We all love a good meal. We look forward to any meal, especially if it is one that celebrates a special occasion or event. People gather, there is food and drink; there may be singing and dancing; stories are told and memories are created. Meals bring people together.

Meals, food and celebrating are a central theme and message of readings this Sunday. We are told that Elisha, ‘a man of God, is brought bread, the first fruits, twenty barely loaves and fresh grain.’ On receiving all this food, he asks that it is given away to feed the people. But those with him asked how such little food will feed so many people. Again, he insists that the food is shared out saying, ‘the Lord says this, they will eat and some left over.’ The food was served, everyone had plenty to eat and there was food left over.