Sunday, July 28, 2024
The Sunday Liturgical cycle is divided into three years: A, B, and C. In Year A, we read mostly from Matthew’s Gospel; in Year B, we read from Mark’s and Chapter 6 of John’s; and Luke’s in Year C. The Gospel of John is read during the season of Easter every year. In this Liturgical Year B, we interrupt readings from Mark’s gospel, and for five Sundays, we shift to readings of John Chapter 6 and the Eucharistic teachings of Jesus. The Chapter has 71 verses, making it one of the longest in the Gospels and New Testament. The miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish in today’s Gospel is recounted six times in the New Testament. It is the only miracle of Jesus narrated by all four Gospel writers.
What the crowd had seen and heard about Jesus stirred them to follow Him across the Sea of Galilee. The large crowd followed Jesus not because they were hungry for food. Their hearts yearned to hear and be filled with the Word of God. Jesus was moved with compassion for them, asked them to recline on the vast grassy field, and desired to feed them by buying food. God sees and fills our needs, often unexpectedly and without us asking for help or even recognizing those needs. It is interesting to see Jesus’ disciple, Philip, questioning Jesus about having enough money to buy food for the multitude when asked. Had Philip already forgotten that Jesus turned water into wine? This is when a young boy steps forward and freely offers his provision of five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus uses the offering to give five thousand men more than they can eat. Though it might appear inconsequential, his selfless generosity is a powerful example of giving. Jesus did not feed the multitude with food that He brought from heaven. He used the food provided by the boy to feed the people. This emphasizes how, as a community of faith, we provide for the needs of our brethren. God takes what we offer, multiplies it, and gives it to the people in need. We are called to share as God works through us. We are entrusted with helping one another with corporal works of mercy.
The miracle of Jesus blessing, breaking, and distributing the loaves and fish foreshadows His institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Just as the bread blessed and multiplied by Jesus nourished the multitudes, the Eucharist provides nourishment and sustenance to our souls.
Let us reflect on a message given by Pope John Paul II addressing the young people of Scotland in 1982: “Jesus miraculously fed those five thousand people and still had something left over. It is exactly the same with your lives. Left alone to face the difficult challenges of life today, you feel conscious of your inadequacy and afraid of what the future may hold for you. But what I say to you is this: place your lives in the hands of Jesus. He will accept you, and bless you, and he will make such use of your lives as will be beyond your greatest expectations!”
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.