BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 35)
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
II Kgs 4:42-44 // Eph 4:1-6 // Jn 6:1-15
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
As I read today’s Gospel reading (Jn 6:1-15), I remember a true story for inspiration that I read in a magazine. A housewife was in a quandary. Some dear friends from out of town called up for an impromptu visit. She and her husband were delighted to see them, but she was worried because there was not enough food in the house. They had been working on a shoestring budget and the pantry was practically empty. Anxiously she went to her bedroom to pray. Then she heard a kindly voice assuring her, “You have food to serve.” She went to the kitchen to check. She found a fistful of ground meat in the freezer; two pieces of withered carrot and some onions in the vegetable bin, and a small box of biscuit mix in the cabinet. She hurriedly prepared a small pot of meat stew from this meager supply and baked mouth-watering biscuits, her specialty. The guests came and sat with them. She dreaded that there was not enough food for all. But as they amiably exchanged stories and the food was passed around, the guests as well as the hosts were able to serve themselves. They even treated themselves to a second serving. After the fine dinner when she was lavishly complimented by the well-satiated guests for the delicious stew and biscuits, she was aghast that there was even some leftover! Indeed, the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves was replicated in their lives.
In Mark’s account proclaimed last Sunday (cf. Mk 6:30-34), we heard that the pitiable crowd, who were “like sheep without shepherd” pursued Jesus to a deserted place. Jesus took pity on them and nourished them with the bread of his Word by teaching them. After this episode, Mark narrates the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the feeding of the five thousand by Jesus (cf. Mk 6:35-44). The Gospel reading that is proclaimed this Sunday and for the next four Sundays is taken, not from Mark’s account, but from its parallel passage in John, chapter 6, known as the “bread of life discourse”. This editorial intervention by those who have prepared the Vatican II Lectionary is meant to help the Sunday assembly delve into the meaning of the Eucharist, symbolized by the miracle of the loaves.
The account of the multiplication of the loaves carries a powerful message to the people of today. In a distressed world convulsed with deep human hunger, we are reminded that there is bread for all, if only we are willing to share. William Barclay suggests that the real miracle in the feeding of the multitude was that an example of sharing on the part of Jesus prompted a generous sharing by all. Overcoming their selfishness and able to share what they have, they discovered that there was plenty of bread for all and that there was enough for everyone. In today’s society, there is an abundance of the world’s resources, but there is a brutal inequity in the sharing of goods. Aelred Rosser comments: “We know that the world is capable of feeding everyone in it, yet starvation is a horrible reality for many. How can this be? Is anything more important than human life?”
The Gospel account of the multiplication of the loaves also teaches us that personal involvement is needed in carrying out a miracle of love for God’s people. Although overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation, Andrew did not detach himself from the problem. He said to Jesus: “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Andrew was creatively involved in the pastoral situation of the hungry crowd. Rather than being passive, he was exploring possible solutions. In the process, he unwittingly pointed to a basic material for Jesus’ miraculous intervention. The authors of the book, Days of the Lord, vol. 5 comment: “One would think that Jesus was only waiting for this generous and symbolic offering of a few modest fruits of human work: everything is in readiness for his intervention.” From the modest portion offered by the boy, Jesus prepared a banquet for all. The evangelist John narrates: “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” (Jn 6:11).
St. Augustine reflects on this miracle that is meant to lead the human mind through visible things to a perception of the divine: “Christ did what God does. Just as God multiplies a few seeds into a whole field of wheat, so Christ multiplied the five loaves in his hands. For there was power in the hands of Christ. Those five loaves were like seeds, not because they were cast on the earth but because they were multiplied by the one who made the earth. This miracle was presented to our senses to stimulate our minds; it was put before out eyes in order to engage our understanding and so make us marvel at the God we do not see because of his works which we do see.”
Leader: Jesus, Bread of life, when you went across the Sea of Galilee, a large crowd followed you because they saw the signs you performed in healing the sick. On the mountain, you set a table of plenty for the hungry crowd, giving them a sign of the heavenly banquet and eucharistic feasting. Help us to be attentive to the stupendous “signs” that you continually carry out in our lives. Like your disciple, Andrew, help us to be personally involved in the pastoral care for your flock. Teach us to explore the potential of the resources available to us, and never be daunted by the overwhelming cries of today’s poor. Like the boy who provided you with the material for the multiplication of the loaves and the feeding of the hungry crowd, may we experience the beauty and nobility of contributing our modest resource of “five barley loaves and two fish” for your messianic work and miracle of love. You continually nourish your flock by offering yourself for them as their Bread of life. For your miracles and the wonders of your love, we thank and bless you, now and forever.
Assembly: Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much as the fish as they wanted.” (Jn 6:11)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
Prepared by: Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang, PDDM