--- title: Daily Readings Reflection for 7/31/11 description: Daily Readings Reflection for 7/31/11 --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2011/07/31/daily-readings-reflection-for-73111#) # Daily Readings Reflection for 7/31/11 Jul 31, 2011 7:00:41 AM  |  by [Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-m-hendey) Scripture: Lectionary # 113.  Isaiah 55:1-3. Psalm 145:8-9.15-16.17-18. Romans 8:35.37-39.  Matthew 14:13-21 [Sunday's Readings ](http://usccb.org/nab/073111.shtml) God's absolute and intimate love for us as well as God's ever present concern and care for us are two themes that are complementary in our Sunday liturgy--the day in which we celebrate Jesus' Paschal Mystery in the Eucharist. We need these readings to help us through the sleepless and worrisome nights we sometimes experience. We are concerned about so many things among our own fears about the future life as well as the constant daily demands we face.  This Sunday's readings give us an "exodus" experience or a way out of these troublesome thoughts and anxieties. These Sacred Readings help us to see the bigger picture of God's redemptive love in what we call "salvation history." This is God's ongoing presence within ourselves and our world.  It is often so silent and seemingly remote that we need to remember the magnalia Dei (the great saving acts of God) that are in the Scriptures, for example, the Exodus Event, the Creation, the Transfiguration, and the Resurrection. This calls for on our part a listening heart that believes in the words of God that help us to find our way into the paths that lead to God.  We are to experience God as Moses did as a friend speaking to a friend.  We need to love with all our heart, our mind, and our soul in order to experience this intimacy of love with our Creator and our Redeemer.  We are to become part of the salvific plan and perceive the bigger picture with the help of our faith and our trust in God the Provider and giver of all good gifts that come from above. Again, as we have learned in the way these liturgical texts are presented on a Sunday, the first reading often contains the theme(s) of the Gospel. The one suggested in Isaiah in the great final chapter of the Book of Comfort (Isaiah 40-55) or Deutero-Isaiah.  The theme of the new exodus is repeated and then our parallel with the multiplication of the loaves is found in the invitation to a joyful banquet. We all are to eat and have our fill and the single need is to have a hunger and thirst for God. "The Bible often invokes the banquet symbol to celebrate God's care for Israel: the Passover (Exodus 12) and the Sinai covenant (Exodus 24:5,11). Certainly the miracle of Jesus is done because of his loving compassion and concern for each of the persons gathered around him who need to be fed.  We read from the first line that this miracle happened after Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist. He turns his mourning into comforting those who have followed him and now are need of nourishment. We see our Eucharist throught he words Matthew gives us: Jesus blesses the loaves, breaks them, and distributes them throught he help of his apostles.  The gathering here on a Sunday is similar to what is taking place there as we receive the Bread of Life, Jesus himself who is our Way, our Truth, and our Life. And although we do get anxious and fearful we are living within the community of the Church that unites all of us in one faith throughout the world and makes us realize this is a good time to be alive. St. Paul gives us an encouraging message.  "There is nothing in the world that can rob us of God's love. Has anyone else told us we were loved that much?  It almost defies description.  And that is the message of every crucifix. God just can't give up on us. Some people are so inhibited that they can't even use the word "love."  In God's language it is used boldly and unequivocally and with all the meaning possible. Paul simply says that nothing is going to take us away from God--unless we opt out. And how could that happen in the light of all this Sunday has taught us?" (Roland J. Faley, T.O.R., Footprints on the Mountain, page  514). ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F07%2F31%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-73111%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F07%2F31%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-73111%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F07%2F31%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-73111%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Readings%20Reflection%20for%207%2F31%2F11) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F07%2F31%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-73111%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F07%2F31%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-73111%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Lisa%20M%20Hendey%202024.png) ### [Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-m-hendey) Lisa M. Hendey is the founder of CatholicMom.com, a bestselling author and an international speaker. A frequent radio and television guest, Hendey travels internationally giving workshops on faith, family, and communications. Visit Lisa at [LisaHendey.com](http://lisahendey.com), on her Substack at [LisaHendey.Substack.com](http://lisahendey.substack.com/), or on social media @LisaHendey for information on her speaking schedule or to invite her to visit your group, parish, school or organization. [Find Lisa’s books on her Amazon author page](https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-M-Hendey/e/B002ZM9FH0). [**](http://facebook.com/lisamhendey) [**](http://twitter.com/lisahendey) ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Readings Reflection for 3/13/11 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2011/03/13/daily-readings-reflection-for-31311) [ Daily Readings Reflection for 10/31/09 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2009/10/31/daily-readings-reflection-for-103109) [ Daily Readings Reflection for 2/23/09 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2009/02/23/daily-readings-reflection-for-22309) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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