Bible reading: February 14th : First reading The prophecy of the separation of Israel A Reading from the First Book of Kings 12: 26-32,13:33-34 In those days: Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” So the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. He also made temples on high places, and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites. And Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made priests for the high places again from among all the people. Any who would, he ordained to be priests of the high places. And this thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, so as to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth. The Word of the Lord. February 14th : Responsorial Psalm Psalm 106:6–7ab, 19–20, 21–22 (R. See 4ab) Response : O Lord, remember me with the favour you show to your people. Like our fathers, we have sinned. We have done wrong; our deeds have been evil. Our forebears, when they were in Egypt, did not grasp the meaning of your wonders. R.: O Lord, remember me with the favour you show to your people. They fashioned a calf at Horeb, and worshiped an image of metal; they exchanged their glory for the image of a bull that eats grass. R.: O Lord, remember me with the favour you show to your people. They forgot the God who was their saviour, who had done such great things in Egypt, such wonders in the land of Ham, such marvels at the Red Sea. R.: O Lord, remember me with the favour you show to your people. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia V. Alleluia. R. Alleluia. V. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. R. Alleluia. February 14th : Gospel The feeding of the four thousand A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St.Mark 8: 1-10 In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. The Gospel of the Lord. _____________ Today's Gospel Reflection: In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” Mark 8:1–3 Early in Jesus’ public ministry, He made a brief trip across the Sea of Galilee to the territory of the Gerasenes—a largely Gentile and pagan town on the outskirts of the Decapolis. This journey was significant, as it demonstrated Jesus’ intention to extend His mission beyond the boundaries of Jewish territory, foreshadowing the universal scope of salvation that would later be fully realized through the Church’s apostolic mission. When Jesus arrived on shore in the territory of the Gerasenes, He freed a man possessed by “Legion,” meaning many demons, and sent the demons into a herd of two thousand swine, who drowned themselves in the sea. Although this was the only recorded act Jesus performed during that initial visit, it caused quite a commotion. When the swineherds saw this, they ran and reported the incident to the nearby town, and people came to see it for themselves. Stunned by what had happened, they asked Jesus to leave, and He did. However, “the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed” (Mark 5:20). That brief trip into the Gentile and pagan territory of the Decapolis planted a seed. The loss of two thousand swine undoubtedly affected the people, but it also planted the seed more deeply. Which was more important: one man possessed by a legion of demons or two thousand swine? Jesus’ actions reveal the answer. As word spread of His miraculous deliverance and authority over demons, many Gentiles became curious. That brief miracle set the stage for today’s Gospel when Jesus returned to the Decapolis to nurture the seed He had planted. Upon His return, He cured a deaf and mute man, symbolizing the importance of hearing and proclaiming the Gospel. Afterwards, Jesus drew a great crowd, who remained with Him for three days despite having no food. After three days, Jesus revealed His compassionate heart to the Twelve: “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.” Jesus then tested the Twelve, observing, “If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” This situation should have been familiar to the Twelve. Earlier in His ministry, while in Jewish territory, Jesus had fed five thousand men with only five loaves and two fish. But now they were in Gentile territory, and instead of understanding that Jesus’ same providence extended to these pagans, the disciples said to Him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Once again, Jesus performed a miracle and fed four thousand. Reflect today on the universality of Jesus’ mission. His compassionate care transcended cultural and religious boundaries, offering physical and spiritual nourishment to all who sought Him. Jesus’ same mission continues today through us, the members of His Body, the Church. We must never become self-enclosed in our own communities of faith and family. Instead, we are called to go out into the world, to the “pagan” regions where people hunger for God’s Word. Sometimes our mission is to plant a seed; at other times, it is to nurture the seed by helping it grow through the grace of God, so that everyone may come to know and love Him. Ultimately, the feeding of the five thousand Jews and four thousand Gentiles points to the universal call for all to share in the Eucharistic banquet. Learn the lesson Jesus taught the Twelve, and imitate our Lord’s merciful heart, filled with compassion for those who need Him the most. My generous Lord, You desire all people to come to know You and to be saved. Free me from any hesitancy or fear in sharing Your saving Truth with those who need it most. Grant me the wisdom to discern when to plant the seed, when to nurture it, and when to harvest. Use me as Your instrument to draw others into the fullness of life, where they may share in Your Eucharistic banquet of grace. Jesus, I trust in You. #Bible reading