Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

• Isaiah 55:1-3
• Romans 8:35, 37-39
• Matthew 14:13-21

A big sign greeted the Pauline family as they woke up this Sunday morning.  It was a banner hanging in the living room.  On the banner was a math question.  It read:

Everyone looked at the sign and scratched their heads.  What were Mom and Dad up to now?  How could this make sense?  And did this have something to do with the Gospel reading for this morning?

Vincent spoke up first.  “I do pretty good in math, but I don’t think anyone could figure that equation out!”

Mary Clare agreed.  “5 + 2 × 1 = 7, doesn’t it?  That’s what I’ve always thought!”

“We’ll just have to see what Mom and Dad are up to!” Lucy added.

Soon the family gathered for the Sunday Scripture reading.  The Gospel told of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes.  It read, “ ‘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.” (Matthew 14:17-21)

Now it was all making sense.

Vincent was the first to speak up.  “I understand that the five on the banner means the five loaves, and that the two stands for the two fish, right Mom?”

“Exactly!” Mom answered him.

“So what is the times one (× 1) on the banner for?” he asked.

“Good question, Vincent!” Mom said.  “This passage of Scripture is sometimes known as the Miracle of the Multiplication.”  So … the times one stands for multiplication or times, and one divine miracle of Jesus Christ!”

“I know that the Scripture told us that there were 12 baskets of leftover pieces,” Mary Clare added, “so I understand the remainder part.  But, help me understand the over 5,000  number on your banner.”

“Sure, Mary Clare!” Dad answered.  “The 5,000 reported were only the men in the crowd.  We know that there were more people present when you add in the women and children.”

“Wow!  What a picnic!”  Lucy shouted.  “Feeding that many people is HUGE!”

“And think about this, Lucy!” Dad nodded.  “Jesus continues to feed us, tend to our needs, and give us renewed life yet today!”

“By Holy Communion, Dad?” Lucy asked, feeling proud of her own First Communion not long ago and of all the lessons she learned.

“Absolutely, Honey!” Dad answered.  “The Miracle of the Multiplication was a symbol of the future Eucharist.”

Then, Mom walked into the kitchen and grabbed the wipe-off message board from the cupbaord.  She hurried back into the room.

“Now, I have another math problem for all of you!” she announced.

Taking the white board, she wrote:

“I don’t know, Mom,” they all answered.  “When does eight equal 16?”

Mom smiled and said, “When eight Paulines move 16 feet out the door to Holy Mass!”

Over shuffling feet, Mary Clare was heard to say, “Now, that’s the kind of math I like!”

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