Before me is a treasured souvenir from the lakeside of Galilee. It is a replica of the fifth-century mosaic showing the basket of five barley loaves flanked by two fishes. Memories are evoked and today's Gospel scene comes vividly to mind as we join, in spirit, with the eager thousands nourished lovingly by their Good Shepherd.
A devout and courageous woman, Egeria, the Spanish nun, came here from Spain over 1,500 years ago and wrote for us her story: "Here are stone steps on which stood the Lord. By the lake shore is a grassy plain with palm trees and seven springs of ever flowing water. Here the Lord fed the crowds with the five loaves and two fishes." The scene is little changed. Pilgrims come to reflect, to share the silence, to pray and to be fed from the sacred tables of Living Word and healing Sacrament.
As we reflect in prayer on the Gospel story of the miracle we note how Christ in gentle courtesy asked all to be seated and to relax upon the green grass. Two hundred silver coins would be needed, Philip said, to give even a little to all. Andrew it was who pointed out the young boy with the lunch basket adding (was he smiling?): . . . "It certainly won't be enough for the thousands." We must never forget the words of Jesus . . . "Gather the fragments! Let nothing go to waste." We have much to learn beside this lake of memories.
Julian of Norwich teaches us to learn from our past and to avoid still further woeful waste. By the healing mercy of the Redeeming Christ we can turn our loss to gain. We seek for the grace of sincere contrition and the healing that will cause us henceforth to walk in wisdom. As nothing will lay waste the spirit so much as cruelty and pride, she would have us pray for true compassion towards those who are, like us, frail and full of fruit. Our vision is distorted and our sins are often invisible to us while the faults of others loom large upon the view. Lest more days and years be lost she asks us to pay for the deep wisdom that makes us third and hunger for God. He has made us for Himself and our eager hearts will be forever restless till they rest in Him. Here is wisdom to guide us till journey's end. There need not now be further waste.
We gather the fragments! Some memories may leave us in alarm. Broken promises by which so many were betrayed! Need all be lost? Marshal Foch (of France) once wrote when all seemed dark: "It is with remainders our victories are won." Few of us are ever fully the persons we once hoped to be. Few diaries are free from stain. Our Miserere Psalm comes readily to heart and mind. This prayer can pierce the clouds.
George Otto Simms would not allow us to forget that "prayers learned by heart are treasures forever.
Ever close is the God who saves. Sacred memories cast light across our darkest days and save us from despair. Songs of praise and much-loved psalms remembered will lift the heart, bring fresh radiance, inspire new courage and help us to resolve once more. All is never lost. As we recall pilgrim days of prayer we get new vision and lift our eyes to the eternal hills. We live again those sacred moments in Canterbury and Iona, in Walsingham and Lourdes, in Lough Derg and Knock, in Clonmacnoise and Glendalough. We bring our tiny basket of repentance, of desire, and of fresh resolve.
As we rise to face another day we will find that God's raven will, as for Elijah, bring us to food for the journey. We gather all precious fragments and with strength made new, go forward even to the mountain of our God. We too shall feed some hungering souls upon the way.
"Stay with us, Lord Jesus, as evening falls. Be our companion on our way. In your mercy inflame our hearts and raise our hope So that united with your pilgrim people We may recognise you in the Scripture And in the breaking of the bread. Amen"
May the Lord grant to us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.