My best friend died during the week. Jesus best friend and cousin ..John the Baptist, is murdered in to days story. Jesus is very sad, and decides to get away to a quiet corner. But the people won’t let Him go. They want to be with Him. Jesus, rather than reject ‘’the crowding,’’goes with the flow. Maybe, I thought, that this is Gods way of consoling, and comforting us ...through the presence, and friendship of other people. My mother died when I was very young. The local postman got me involved in football. It was a best gift. People are generous with their time at funerals. It can be difficult to make time with all the demands of the day, work, distance, traffic. With my friend, I was lucky to be able to be present at all the gatherings. The last gathering was a simple meal with family and relatives and friends. I had never quite realised how significant that meal is. It is a last courtesy that we can give our dear one. So Jesus provides a meal for worried, tired, and weary people in todays story, and it says, that the meal included everybody, men, women, and children. Maybe, the writer is hinting at what Mass is ...Thanksgiving, people together, friendship, invitation ....Come, Take the Bread of life to help us in our struggles, on the journey of life.

Liam Hickey, St.Ciarans, Hartstown, Dublin 15.