The widely acclaimed Jesuit Scripture scholar, Nicholas King, has produced a wonderful translation of the scriptures, striving to present the message in a form of colloquial English, designed to reflect the way the authors would have spoken in their own time.

For example, Archbishop Desmond Tutu described “a splendid piece of work” that “hits you between the eyes.” Nicholas also adds his own commentary and, when I glanced to see what he said about the readings for the 18th Sunday of the Year, I was fascinated to find the following comments. He spoke of “this lovely passage” from Isaiah, of Paul’s “purple passage” and of “this charming story” in Matthew.

The fact that many scripture passages become very familiar may mean that, in time, we fail to notice just what “lovely” or “purple” passages they are and therefore fail to be “charmed” or moved by the message they are conveying. Like all the prophets, Isaiah often feels the need to warn us of the dangers that can lead us astray, but by the same token, he also sees beyond, to how God always wants the best for us and that the best is accessible.

The “lovely” picture of God wanting to quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger is part of that unfolding narrative in the scriptures which sees the Kingdom of God in terms of a great banquet. It links us to the underlying message of this week’s gospel – the ‘Feeding of the Five Thousand’ – which, in turn, points us to that banquet which we have in the gift of the Eucharist. And notice how Jesus uses the occasion of the feeding as a lesson for the apostles and for us, that we are called to be the providers.

The instinct of the apostles was that this was all too much for them and that the people should be sent away to find food for themselves, but, of course, the Eucharist will become the ultimate sign and reminder that this is how we are to look after one another and be united through Christ with our Father in Heaven. Finally, notice how Paul presents us with one of his many purple passages. There are times when Paul seems to be a very hard taskmaster. Often, he seems to be weighed down with his struggles and even irritated with the lack of response from some of the early Christian communities.

In chapter eight of his letter to the Romans he does indeed wrestle with the huge challenge of a disordered world, but has no problem in concluding that ultimately Christ will triumph over every problem that presents itself: “neither death nor life, nor angels or rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

May we have the confidence and the courage to go forth and proclaim that message to our troubled world.

Timothy Buckley CSsR

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