Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 25, 2021

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We need to have trust that God will provide; but we need to contribute what we can to the effort

John 6:1–15

After this, 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.

Music Meditations

Opening Prayer

Lord, you came to give us life, and life in abundance. Help me to learn from this story just how much you care for me and for all the ordinary events of my life. Help me to know that you understand when I am lonely or hungry. Help me to understand loneliness and hunger in others, especially those I am thinking of right now… You can work through my inadequacies and can do wonders with me as your willing helper.

Companions for the Journey

From “First Impressions” 2003, by Jude Siciliano

The past three weeks we had been hearing sequential readings from Mark. Beginning today, till almost the end of the summer, we will have gospel selections from John 6. In his gospel, John narrates only seven miraculous acts by Jesus and he names them—”signs.” He sees these signs as a special revelation about Jesus and in each, the believer is brought close to the all-powerful and resurrected Lord. We not only witness a miraculous deed performed by Jesus, but through the sign we are invited to step closer for a more thorough reflection on what it says about Jesus. The signs John narrates help those with eyes of faith to see—to believe in Jesus in the ways each sign reveals him to us.

Today we have the sign of the multiplication. In subsequent weeks we will hear the additional reflections on this sign John provides to help us come to faith in Jesus as the Bread of Life and Wisdom sent down from God. John is not a casual writer; through his narration, with its multi-layered symbolism, we come to see more and more about who Jesus is. Remember what John said towards the end of his gospel, where he states his purpose for writing quite clearly, “Jesus performed many other signs as well, signs not recorded here, in the presence of his disciples. But these have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, so that through this faith, you may have life in his name” (20:30-31). We now focus on one of these signs so that in “seeing” it we might grow in faith. A large crowd has sought Jesus out. Unlike the Synoptic gospels, John doesn’t say that Jesus expresses pity for the hungry crowd, or that they are like lost sheep without a shepherd. Instead, Jesus opens with a question to Philip about where “we” will get enough food for the approaching crowd. John tells us quite plainly that Jesus is “testing” his disciples. The story has us focus on how the disciples will respond to this test and what Jesus’ own response will be. Of course we too are being “tested” as we apply the story to our lives.

Which gives us pause to ask, what’s the test for us? Is it that we too must face the many needs of family, friends, church, world and that we feel overwhelmed or “crowded” by them? How shall we feed them? Is the test the questions that are put before us when we realize that for the really important issues and areas of our lives we do not have enough “bread”? The story today shows both the disciples and Jesus looking at the same needs. The disciples don’t exaggerate the problem; they evaluate their meager resources and what will be required of them and then express incredulity, “how are we going to feed them?” They are not blind or indifferent to the needs and they seem to want to address them, but just can’t figure out how they will do it. It is just too much for them. Jesus is also looking at the same hungers and he takes charge. Doing the work Jesus has calls us to do does not always seem possible. Listen to Andrew’s comment when he reports the little they have, “What is that among so many?” Andrew and the disciples are realistic enough. But they have not factored in the One who is looking with them at the problem and what he may have in mind. We look around at our world and it has enormous hungers for peace, community, meaning and wholeness. We, who do so many good and varied ministries, both as ordained and lay people, wonder if we have what it takes to make a difference, to touch the hearts, minds and wills of our neighbors, to improve their lives and the life of the world. A tall order indeed! “Where can we buy enough food…”, to have that kind of impact? We can’t. But we don’t have to do it on our own; Jesus looks with us and knows “what he [is] going to do” through us to feed the crowds.

Early in the story we learn that, “the feast of Passover was near.” That is an important detail that helps us understand the meaning of this sign. Believers hearing this detail are nudged by the mention of the Passover to make links: it was at the Passover meal that Jesus ate with his disciples. During the meal he told them about his death. While the Synoptic used Eucharistic language to describe the multiplication miracle, John draws out the meaning of this sign with a long discourse about Jesus’ giving his flesh and blood. In the next weeks we will hear John inviting us to look beyond the bread that was given the crowds and see the Bread of Life that is really being offered to feed us. The crowds want bread, an immediate satisfaction for empty stomachs. John is saying that Jesus is going to satisfy their still deeper hungers. Moses provided bread for the Israelites in the desert—day by day. But it only satisfied the people’s hungers for a while. Then they would be hungry again. While John will elaborate in subsequent weeks, he has already opened a door and invited us to “see.”

The crowds don’t get what is really happening. They see a powerful work, but not the meaning of the sign that just happened. They got their bellies full, but their spirits are still hungry. They don’t see that Jesus is the very bread that can feed them so that the will never be hungry again. What does it take to fill us up? What bread do we reach out for and does it hold true and lasting value for us? Will that bread be with us through life’s difficult journeys or will it run out and not be bread at all—just cotton candy? The appetite that drives people towards other, less substantial, breads—status, property, the latest gadgets, etc., is insatiable. Yet, when what we thought we wanted is possessed, we eventually still want more, or want a more up-to-date version. We are what we eat. If we hunger for and try to satisfy ourselves with food that doesn’t nourish, we will soon realize we are still hungry and we are unfulfilled people.

When we have a sleepless night, what is on our mind? What are the middle-of-the night ghosts that we don’t like to think about during the daylight, the areas where our lives are askew and energies misplaced? Those concerns and hungers for direction are the places where we need the true bread. We need nourishment that goes down deep to the place where we set our priorities; we need the bread to direct us. We want a food that will help keep us focused on what is really important and lasting. If that is what we want and if we are what we eat, then it makes sense to eat the Bread of Life, Jesus. We aren’t just seeking his comforting presence. He has more to offer. John tells us that the people call him “the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” And prophet he is. His life is to be the pattern we follow in our lives, for we too are called upon to feed others. The way we can feed them is to act in the world in ways that clearly identify us with Jesus. To make room for the bread that Jesus offers—we must starve judging and feed on kindness; starve indifference and feed on compassion; starve isolation and feed on community; starve selfishness and feed on generosity. The old self must go hungry and the life of Jesus must feed and expand our spirits. Now at our Eucharist we are like the hungry crowd. But we haven’t come here for momentary satisfaction. We have been present to the sign John narrates for us. We know there is only one true and lasting nourishment and we have come to receive it, the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.

Weekly Memorization

Taken from the gospel for today’s session…

There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

  • What is your first reaction when you face a challenging or what seems to be an impossible situation?
  • When I pray, do I expect God to “fix” my life, or do I ask for strength, courage, patience or creativity to deal with an issue myself?
  • Do I focus on the enormity of the task of helping make a situation better and simply give up in despair?
  • Do I take my concerns to someone else, expecting them to solve the problem, while I remain passive?
  • How much of our prayer is looking for some sign of God’s power in our life, the life of someone we know, or in the world?
  • Do we really believe we ourselves have enough wisdom, power, strength and courage to make a change in people’s lives, because God has given these things to us?
  • How much of our prayer is thanking God for what has been given to us in opportunity, talent, loved ones, and beauty?
  • How much of our prayer asks that we have the wisdom and courage to engage others as Jesus did?
  • In a culture of consumerism, when do we ever have enough to stop clutching at our possessions (wealth, talent, fame,) in order to give some of it away simply because we have something others do not?
  • Who has fed me in one way or another throughout my life?
    Have I been aware of their generosity or did I simply expect it as my due?
  • What is the role of individual generosity in this story of the loaves and fishes? How generous am I?
  • Who is my brother? Who is my sister? Who is not???
  • Do we identify with those in need (like the people Jesus fed), or do we see them as “other”?
  • From Fr. Jude Siciliano, O.P.:
    Do we celebrate Eucharist as a way to get away from the problems of the world, or as a way to deepen our oneness with all of creation?
    What hungers are we experiencing as we gather around the Eucharistic table this Sunday?
    Who are the hungry we are called by Christ to feed? Where? How?
    Where does our culture’s “rugged individualism” (where the strongest survive, and the race goes to the swift) fit in with our obligations to the poor?
    In concern for the poor, sociologists have found that Catholics are no better than their non-Catholic counterparts—what does that say about us and our religious beliefs?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Augustinian Style/Relationship:

John’s gospel is all about the extravagance of God, and God’s desire that we have life more abundantly… Look at the generous amount of wine at the wedding feast of Cana… It was greater in amount, but also greater in quality than anyone expected. In this story (one which is told in all four gospels), what was left over was more than they began with. I think of the ways in which Jesus’ generosity showed up in so many events of his ministry. I think of the ways in which Jesus’ generosity has touched my life. Another name for such generosity might be “grace”. Grace is also present in the down times and the failures—the times we learn about ourselves and our capacity for growth and forgiveness. Compose a letter to God, reflecting on all the ways you have been graced in your life, through good situations and through difficult ones. Be sure to express your gratitude….

A Meditation in the Ignatian Style/Imagination:

I place myself in the events of this story.

First, I imagine that I am one of the crowd that has followed Jesus. Am I male or female? I try to remember why I decided to come here, to this remote location so far from home. Did I come alone, curious about all the chatter surrounding this enigmatic man, or did I come or with family or friends because we thought the adventure would be fun? I try to remember what it was about Jesus that impels me to stay longer and longer in his presence, until my hunger reminds me how stupid it was to neglect to bring something to eat, or watch the time. As the crowd gets a little restless, I try to decide what to do. I am fascinated by this man, but I am aware that I am very, very hungry. There seems to be a conversation among Jesus and several of his close associates, who look a little worried. And when I am told, along with the rest of the crowd, to recline on the ground as if a meal were coming, do I hesitate a bit and look around to see what others are doing? How surprised am I when Jesus is given a few loaves and couple of fish, says a prayer and begins distributing the food? Where did it all come from? Was it all magic? Did others in the crowd have food, and moved by the generosity of the little boy who gave his lunch to Jesus, shared what they had with those around them? What is my response to the sudden meal produced from virtually nothing? Do I grab what I can or wait for others to take what they need? Do I tidy up afterwards? Do I look at Jesus with new eyes?

Or maybe I am one of Jesus’ close companions. What is my reaction when I see the numbers who have followed Jesus to this remote location? Am I starting to get worried about the hunger and need of this pretty big crowd who are so enthralled with Jesus? What do I think of Jesus question about buying food for everyone? I start to panic a little, but somehow, I know Jesus will have a solution. It is kind of laughable that his solution is to take a little boy’s lunch and assume it will feed everyone. How surprised am I when it actually does feed everyone? Does this tell me anything about God’s generosity, or about placing my trust in God’s ultimate goodness? Do I look at Jesus with new eyes?

Perhaps I am that little child with the meager lunch. Did my mom give me a little meal to take with me as I spent the day out of doors and away from chores for once? My friends and I spot a crowd of people, many from my village, many of whom seem to be gathered around a guy named Jesus who is preaching to them. Even though we don’t understand everything he is talking about, we decide to hang around and see if anything interesting happens. While I am sitting there, I absent-mindedly look in the little package my mom gave me. It smells a teeny bit as I open the sack, and that is when one of this guy’s close followers asks if I would give it to him to give to Jesus. I hold out my little offering, but what am I thinking? Am I afraid I am being taken advantage of? Am I embarrassed by how little I have to give, knowing it will never be enough? Do I feel honored that I could contribute in some way to this experience? How do I feel when I see what an extravagant feast has resulted from my generosity? Do I look at Jesus with new eyes?

In my own 21st century life, what are the lessons I can learn from this story? What does it tell me about trust, about being aware of the needs of others, about the possibilities that open up when I open my eyes and my heart to others? Do I really believe that God has my best interests at heart; do I believe in a God who says: “I will never forget you; I will hold you in the palm of my hand”? do I believe that what gifts I have are good enough for God, and good enough to make a difference? Is there any action I can take to somehow make life better for a hungry little child who had no breakfast because there was no food in the house, or make life better for a mother trying to work and learn a new language? Can I make life a little better for a college student far from home and lonely, or an older person in a nursing home whom no one ever visits? Can I see the people around me with new eyes? Can I be more generous with my time, my talents, and my treasure?

Poetic Reflection:

Can you see the connection between the gospel stories of the loaves and fishes, the Last Supper and this reflection on the Eucharist by Rev. Ed Ingebretsen, S.J.? (“Gather the People” from Psalms of the Still Country)

What return can we make
for all the Lord has done in our lives?
We bring bread, wine, our clay dishes
and our clay feet
to this altar
and we pray that we may here
make a beginning—
that somehow in our days
we can begin to see the promises
the Lord has made us.

The promises do not always
glow with obvious light, or
overwhelm us by their obvious truth.
No matter what anyone says,
it is difficult to understand an invisible God
and belief is not always
the easy way out.

So we gather the people
and we tell the story again
and we break the bread
and in the memory of the one
who saves us,
we eat and drink
and we pray and we believe.

We gather, we pray, we eat.
These things are for human beings.
God has no need of them.
Yet he himself gathered the people,
prayed, broke bread
and gave it to his friends.

And so the invisible God became
visible
and lives with us.

A Meditation in the Ignatian Style:

There is a wonderful Ignatian reflection by Michael Kennedy S.J, in Eyes on Jesus (Crossroads Publishing), a series of reflections on various gospel stories as imagined through the experiences of the young people of Delores Mission, one of the poorest parishes in Los Angeles county. It is called multiplication, from p.182 to p.190, and it alone is worth the price of the book.

Closing Prayer

Jesus, you teach me that whatever I have is enough. I ask for the generosity to give of myself, to risk rejection and even failure in your name, because I am not called to be perfect, or wonderful; I am called to be faithful to your word.