INTRODUCTION: The prophet Elisha fed a hundred people with twenty barley loaves, and there were leftovers. Jesus fed about five thousand with five barley loaves and a couple of dried fish, and there were leftovers. That is God’s desire for us: everyone should find food in abundance.
Today’s reality is different. Every three days more people die from malnutrition and disease than from the bombing of Hiroshima, and every year more people die from preventable hunger than died in the Holocaust, even though we grow enough grain in the world to provide every man, woman, and child with a satisfactory diet of 3000 calories. The second reading from Ephesians tells us to make every effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force. The problem with the world is its fragmentation; it lacks unity and peace.
Point 1: The problem is not with God’s providence, for God has provided us with plenty enough food for everyone, and then some. The problem is the divisions in the world that prevent food from getting to people or keep people away from the food. God has given blessings to the world: if only we could learn to use those blessings for the benefit of all.
The wonderful thing about today’s Gospel story is that all through it runs an implicit contrast between the attitude of Jesus and the attitude of the disciples (ourselves).
Point 2: It shows us two reactions to human need. When the disciples saw how late it was, and how tired and hungry the crowd were, they said, “Send them away so that they can find something to eat.” In effect they said, “These people are tired and hungry. Get rid of them and let someone else worry about them.” Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.” In effect Jesus said, “These people are tired and hungry. We must do something about it.” There are always the people who are quite aware that others are in difficulty and trouble, but who wish to push the responsibility for doing something about it on to someone else; and there are always the people who when they see someone up against it feel compelled to do something about it themselves. there are those who say, “Let others worry.” And there are those who say, “I must worry about my brother’s need.”
Point 3: It shows us two reactions to human resources. When the disciples were asked to give the people something to eat, they insisted that what they had was not enough to buy bread for them. What they had was equivalent to the standard day’s wage of a working man. In effect the disciples were saying, “We could not earn enough in more than six months’ work to give this crowd a meal.” They really meant “Anything we have got is of no use at all.”
CONCLUSION: Jesus said, “What have you got?” They had five loaves of bread. John (Jn.6:9) tells us they were barley loaves; and barley loaves were the food of the poorest of the poor. Barley bread was the cheapest and the coarsest of all bread. They had two fish which would be about the size of sardines.
It did not seem much. But Jesus took it and worked wonders with it. In the hands of Jesus little is always much. We may think that we have little of talent or substance to give to Jesus. It may indeed be small – small in our eyes and small in the eyes of the world. But that is no reason for a hopeless pessimism such as the disciples had. The one fatal thing to say is, “For all I could do, it is not worth my while trying to do anything.” If we put ourselves, all that we have and all that we are, into the hands of Jesus Christ, there is no telling what he can do with us and through us.
QUESTIONS THAT MAY LEAD TO OTHER THOUGHTS / REFLECTION / DISCUSSION
- From common sense, the man from Baal-shalishah knows that the twenty loaves won’t be sufficient to feed the crowd. He has to trust God over his own logic. Have there been time or are there times in your life when this leap-of-faith, this kind of trust has been or is required? Does this kind of trust becomes easier with practice?
- Both Elisha and the man from Baal had to trust that a miracle would happen. Do you consider anything besides “something that breaks the laws of nature” a miracle? What are the miracles in your life?
- Paul reminds us we have to “strive” to preserve unity. Explain how this directive holds true for us now everywhere but most especially in the church.
- Which would be better, to preserve the peace by not talking to anyone with whom we disagree, or preserve the unity by talking and not getting up from the table when we disagree?
- Maybe Jesus’ sharing encouraged everyone to share their food. What negative qualities in human nature does sharing eliminate? What does this say about the inequality of resources and starvation all over the world?
- What do you think God is more likely to do, miraculously drop food where there is starvation or inspire people to help their neighbors solve their problems? How might your diocese, your parish, office, or you personally be part of the solution for some of your neighbors’ problems?
Meditation
Nothing can satisfy the deepest longing and desire of the heart, except God alone. Do you believe that is true? Of all the miracles Jesus did, this is the only one which is repeated in all four gospels. A great multitude had gathered to hear Jesus, no doubt because they were hungry for the word of life. Jesus’ disciples wanted to send them away at the end of the day because they did not have the resources to feed them. They even complained how much money it would take to feed such a crowd — at least six month’s wages! Jesus took the little they had — five loaves and two fish — and giving thanks to his heavenly Father, distributed to all until they were satisfied of their hunger. They took up what was left over, twelve baskets full so that nothing would be wasted.
What is the significance of this miracle? The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude pointed to God’s provision of manna in the wilderness for the people of Israel under Moses’ leadership. This food foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would offer his followers. Jesus makes a claim only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience. The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. In the multiplication of the loaves and fishes we see a sign and a symbol of what God always does. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves that we may have something to share with others, especially those who lack what they need. God takes the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do you trust in God’s provision for you and do you share freely with others, especially those who lack?
Lord Jesus Christ, you satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts and you feed us with the finest of wheat (Psalm 81:16). Fill us with gratitude for your blessings and give us a generous heart that we may freely share with others what you have given to us.
Listen to the Scriptures: click on the link below:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/15_07_26.mp3
July 26, 2015 – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Lectionary: 110
Reading 1 – 2 Kings 4:42-44
A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God,
twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits,
and fresh grain in the ear.
Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.”
But his servant objected,
“How can I set this before a hundred people?”
Elisha insisted, “Give it to the people to eat.”
“For thus says the LORD,
‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’”
And when they had eaten, there was some left over,
as the LORD had said.
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 145: 10-11, 15-16, 17-18
- The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might. -
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing. -
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth. - The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Reading 2 – Ephesians 4: 1-6
Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.
Alleluia – Luke 7: 16
- Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst.
God has visited his people.
R.Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel – John 6: 1-15
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes
and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip,
“Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
“Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little.”
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?”
Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
“Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted.”
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves
that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
For the Church: that we may be open to God’s generous love and be filled with gratitude for all the ways God has provided for us, let us pray to the Lord.
For a spirit of generosity: that we may be free to share the blessings, the wisdom and the hope God has given us with all who hunger and thirst for a fuller life, let us pray to the Lord.
For the grace to rely upon God’s providence: that we may entrust to God all of our needs, large and small, and trust God’s abundant loving care for us, let us pray to the Lord.
For the grace to bear with one another: that God will give us patience and gentleness to bear with one another through our differences and limits so that we can help one another follow God’s call, let us pray to the Lord.
For unity amongst all believers: that the Spirit of God who has brought us into the one body through baptism will draw us into common prayer and service of God’s reign, let us pray to the Lord.
For a greater appreciation of God’s work in creation: that we may recognize God’s ongoing work in creation and cooperate with it to reveal God’s saving plan, let us pray to the Lord.
For a deeper awareness of the hungers of our hearts: that God will help us to recognize our deepest desires that God has planted within us and guide us in bringing them to fulfillment, let us pray to the Lord.
For the courage to serve others: that we may be open to opportunities to meet the needs of others and to generously respond to them even if our gifts or time seem too limited, let us pray to the Lord.
For an appreciation of all our sisters and brothers: that we may recognize God’s gift of life in one another and honor God’s presence in each other, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who bring food to our table each day, for farmers, for harvesters, for transporters, for grocers, and for cooks: that God will bless them abundantly and renew their life and wellbeing, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who have fled violence or persecution: that God will lead them to places of safety, help them adjust to their new environment and speed the assistance which they need, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who hunger for freedom, particularly those imprisoned unjustly, those caught in human trafficking, and those with addictions: that God will free them, heal them, and give them a new vision of life, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who are traveling: that God will guide their way and bring them safely to their destination, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who endure hunger each day, particularly orphans, refugees and the marginalized: that God will open avenues for food to reach them and help our hearts to be more sensitive to their needs and more aware of our abundance, let us pray to the Lord.
For the grace to preserve the bond of peace: that marriages, families, communities, workplaces, and faith communities may be sustained in peace and mutual respect, let us pray to the Lord.