A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew
When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.
EVANGILE DE JESUS CHRIST SELON ST. MATTHIEU
A cette nouvelle, Jésus partit de là dans une barque, pour se retirer à l’écart dans un lieu désert; et la foule, l’ayant su, sortit des villes et le suivit à pied. Quand il sortit de la barque, il vit une grande foule, et fut ému de compassion pour elle, et il guérit les malades. Le soir étant venu, les disciples s’approchèrent de lui, et dirent: Ce lieu est désert, et l’heure est déjà avancée; renvoie la foule, afin qu’elle aille dans les villages, pour s’acheter des vivres. Jésus leur répondit: Ils n’ont pas besoin de s’en aller; donnez-leur vous-mêmes à manger. Mais ils lui dirent: Nous n’avons ici que cinq pains et deux poissons. Et il dit: Apportezles- moi. Il fit asseoir la foule sur l’herbe, prit les cinq pains et les deux poissons, et, levant les yeux vers le ciel, il rendit grâces. Puis, il rompit les pains et les donna aux disciples, qui les distribuèrent à la foule. Tous mangèrent et furent rassasiés, et l’on emporta douze paniers pleins des morceaux qui restaient. Ceux qui avaient mangé étaient environ cinq mille hommes, sans les femmes et les enfants.
