First Reading

First reading

Reading from the book of Isaiah

Isaiah 55, 1-3

Thus says the Lord:
“All you who are thirsty, come to the water;
and you who have no money,
come, take grain and eat;
take wine and milk without paying.

Why spend your money on what is not bread
and your wages on what does not nourish?

Listen carefully to me and you will eat well,
you will savor rich dishes.
Pay attention to me, come to me,
listen to me and you will live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
I will fulfill the promises I made to David’’.

Second reading

Reading from the letter of the apostle Saint Paul to the Romans

Romans 8, 35. 37-39

Brothers and sisters: What can separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulations? Anguish? Persecution? Hunger? Nakedness? Danger? The sword?

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us; for I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers of this world, neither height nor depth, nor any creature will be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus.

Gospel

Reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Matthew

Matthew 14, 13-21

At that time, when Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he got into a boat and went to a lonely, deserted place. When the people heard of it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus disembarked and saw the large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed the sick.

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said: “This is a deserted place and it is getting late. Send the people away so they can go to the villages and buy something to eat.” But Jesus replied: “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” They answered: “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” He said: “Bring them to me.”

Then he ordered the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.