Archbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam greets pilgrims climbing Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday 2022 (Catholic Communications Office archive)
- Homily for 6.30pm Vigil Mass by Archbishop Francis Duffy for the Reek Sunday Pilgrimage – St Mary’s Church, Westport, Co Mayo
One of Jesus’ characteristics was his ability to notice and appreciate details. Remember the woman who touched the hem of his garment, the widow’s mite, and the cup of water from the woman at the well. They are recorded in scripture because, although apparently relatively small events, they were significant to Jesus and to those involved. In the Gospel we have just heard, here is Jesus with a large crowd of five thousand, and they are out for the day to listen to his message. They are not starving or in distress but they are hungry and Jesus noticed that. He noticed that detail. He is attuned to their welfare and doesn’t want to send them home hungry. He asks Philip and Andrew to provide for them. All they could find were two loaves and five fish. Again the details are recorded, it is recognising the generosity of the boy and his parents in sharing what they have, and Jesus accepts this relatively small amount and miraculously feeds the people. Jesus always appreciated the value of the small step, and in this case, he worked wonders with it. There is no end to Jesus’s generosity.
I would like to highlight three messages in today’s gospel.
The first message is to value the little gestures, as Jesus clearly did. They can make all the difference; they are the ingredients of everyday life. Those actions of everyday living that come our way so frequently, like courtesy, gratitude and helpfulness. These add the flavour of kindness to life. Thank God so many people are attuned to the details and have these qualities in abundance. May we always value the gestures and appreciate them and share them.
A second message is that generosity is important and, is effective. The little boy brought forward the fish and the loaves, prompted, I imagine, by his parents. A generous offer that results in Jesus performing a miracle. In Ireland we are particularly generous to a myriad of charitable causes, and that makes all the difference to those run them and those who benefit from them. Generosity of time and generosity of talent are very valuable parts of life. We see that every day in our parishes, in this parish of Westport, the Westport-Aror Partnership comes to mind. Voluntary organisations and charities depend on this sense of good will and community spirit. They contribute to community living that adds a vital dimension to all our lives. Jesus always promoted and recognised generosity of spirit. Today, I also mention one particular organisation that many of us are familiar with ‘the Order of Malta’. Their members have been providing first aid and ambulance services at many events, and have been doing so on the Reek for the last 80 years. They are truly within the spirit of providing an essential service to the community. Whenever we see them in uniform, with their equipment, we are reassured that safety and care is at hand. Thank you to the members of the Order of Malta, Westport Unit.
The third and final message of the Gospel I wish to mention is that this miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish really points to the Eucharist, to Holy Communion. Put together, all the Communion Hosts that will be distributed at this Mass – and you have a very small amount of bread, barely a loaf – yet the spiritual nourishment that comes from the Communion Host is immense, spreading out to individuals in this church, to families and to people in all sorts of circumstances because it is no longer bread, it is the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist is there to nourish us, to encourage and to give us hope with the good news of the risen Lord.
When people who are dying are given the last rites of the Church, part of that ritual is Holy Communion, often called ‘viaticum’, or food for the journey. They do not die alone, Christ is with them to accompany and guide. Our Eucharist, our Holy Communion is always food for the journey through life, food for your journey and food for my journey. Our daily journeys take us in all sorts of directions, sometimes unexpected, sometimes pleasant, sometimes sad, and sometimes fearful. The ‘Bread of Life’ can help to sustain us on our life’s journey as can all those positive and uplifting gestures and words that people use.
Jesus’ miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fish is very significant and memorable. It is not a miracle of healing that tends to be focussed on one person, instead it is a very public miracle impacting on thousands of people. It is a really wonderful event that evokes thoughts of and points towards the miracle of the Eucharist. The real presence of Jesus in the form of bread and wine at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. That is the real miracle, the boundless and unending presence of Jesus’ in the Eucharist for each and for all.
As we focus on the pilgrim steps of those climbing to the summit of Croagh Patrick this Reek Sunday, the Gospel chosen for us by the Church, and indeed those passages from Saint John’s Gospel we will hear over the next three Sundays, invite us to take ‘pilgrim steps’ towards a deeper appreciation of and faith in the Eucharist “the summit and source of our faith”.
A final and important thought. Today is World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. Very frequently we see all these wonderful deeds of being attentive to the details being carried out for the benefit of those who are elderly. In many ways, it is the younger generation giving back to the older generations the skills, the caring and the helping attitudes they have learned from their parents and grandparents. They follow in those generous footsteps of those who have gone before them. Thank God for those who are attentive and sensitive to our needs and to the needs of others, they truly follow the example of Jesus, the Master of the caring and gentle details.
ENDS
- Archbishop Francis Duffy is Archbishop of Tuam
- Faith history
Pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick has been undertaken for over 1500 years, and this iconic physical feature on the southwest Co Mayo landscape is of significant natural, cultural and spiritual importance. The pilgrimage is associated with Saint Patrick who, in 441 AD, spent forty days and nights fasting on the summit, following the example of Christ and Moses. The name ‘Reek Sunday’ comes from Patrick’s ability to Christianise many pagan customs including the festival of Lughnasa, which previously heralded the start of the harvest festival honouring the ancient pagan god Lugh, whose name is encompassed in the Irish language word for August: Lughnasa. This festival’s tradition became absorbed into new Christian beliefs and locally become known as Domhnach na Cruaiche (Reek Sunday). A virtual tour and additional information on Croagh Patrick can be viewed on tuamarchdiocese.org and on westportparish.ie.
