Loneliness, Hunger of the Heart (Matt 14:13-21)

When Jesus received the news of the death of his cousin, John the Baptist, he withdrew by boat with the apostles to a lonely place where they could be by themselves.

Another name for loneliness is the hunger of the heart.  A popular film years ago was called “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.” One cause of loneliness is the emptiness experienced after the death of a loved one.  Even Jesus felt the need to cope with this emptiness.  A person who is grieving needs time and space.  Different people deal with grief in different ways.   In the weeks after the funeral, many people will be very tired physically, emotionally and spiritually.  One may not have the emotional energy to pray.  It is important to let them know that you are praying for them. Pray also for the discernment to know when to accompany the person grieving and when to let the person have time alone. 

A lonely place

The quietness that Jesus sought did not last for long.  People soon found out where he was and flocked there.  Out of pity for them he set aside his own need and attended to their needs.   Hours slipped by and the disciples were concerned because the people had not brought food.  It is interesting that the apostles did not say to Jesus that this is a hungry place but that this is a lonely place.  They had touched on the inner hunger of the heart, loneliness. 

Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta was shocked when her Sisters of Charity went to serve in a poor area of New York.  In Calcutta, the Sisters ministered to the dying and fed hundreds of hungry people every day.  But in New York they were confronted by the hunger of loneliness felt by deserted old people.  This is how Mother Teresa described it: “The worst disease is not leprosy; it is being unwanted, being left out, being forgotten.  The greatest scourge is to forget the next person, to be so suffocated with the things we have that we have no time for the lonely Jesus – even a person in our own family who needs us.” 

In today’s Second Reading Saint Paul writes: “Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked.”

This is a lonely place, a world filled with lonely people.  Jesus said, “Give them something to eat yourselves.”  He counts on us to reach out.  The apostles had very little to give, no more than five loaves and two fish.  But they gave all they had.  And then, God did the multiplying.  We might not have much to give.  Give it anyway and let God do the multiplying.

Prayer

May the Church continue its long history of inspiring us to care for people who are poor, destitute or lonely.

May the rich nations and wealthy individuals open their eyes and hearts to help the millions who are starving today. 

Open our eyes to the loneliness of people who may be very near us.  And show us some way that we can help them. 

May the God of all consolation comfort and support all who are grieving the loss of a loved one.