NOTES for Act 13:13-24
Today’s Gospel passage can serve as a good illustration of what the Church is, what a community of believers in Christ is. At its center is its Head—Christ Himself. Beside Him labor the apostles, the foundation of the Church’s future hierarchy. They help people by making it easier and more orderly for everyone in need to receive God’s gift. And nowhere is it said that they eat as well. They probably also took part in this meal, but first of all they are here to serve, helping both Christ and the people—the thousands of people around Him. All of them are hungry in one way or another; all of them probably need something from Him. Of course, Christ can satisfy their hunger “out of nothing.” He is God, who created heaven and earth; He has no need of our loaves and fishes, for He has more of them than we do. Yet He uses them to give us what we so deeply desire. He takes what each of us has, and thanks to Him our shared wealth proves to be greater than the mere sum of everything we possess. God is always ready to work a miracle for us, but we are not always ready to receive it. And He waits for us to take our first step—small though it may be, still a participation in the work of our salvation: our consent.