SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YR B
2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145;
Ephesians 4:1-6; John 6:1-15
JESUS OUR ALL
Our gospel today, the feeding of the five thousand men, is recorded by all the four canonical gospels which shows how important it is. It is as if the gospels are telling us that it is one of the stories we should not forget but always remember.
It is the story of the miracle of Jesus feeding five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two fish. Before I make any point, I should like to correct a mistaken interpretation of this story. Some think that this story is a miracle of sharing. That when people saw the boy bring out his bread then all others also brought theirs out to share with others.
This is not true. It is a different interpretation from what the story tells us. In the story, the miracles came from the five loaves of bread and two fish of the boy by the power of Jesus’ prayer We read that when they brought the boy with the five loaves of bread and two fish, “Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also, the fish, as much as they wanted.” (John 6:11)
The first true point of the story is that Jesus cares for his people. When he raised his eyes and saw the crowd, he asked Philip where they can find food for the people. Jesus knows our needs and cares for us. No matter your difficulty and burden, remember that the Lord never abandons you. He cares. Always remember, Jesus is always looking out for you.
Secondly, when he multiplied the bread for the people, there was left over. Jesus makes more food than needed. He gives lavishly and generously. Knowing that Jesus gives generously and in abundance, we should be encouraged to bring to him all that we have so that he can multiply it for us. We must come to the Lord with our inadequacies and insufficiency. It is not easy to admit our insufficiencies because we are afraid most of the time. We fear that it would make us vulnerable and render us powerless before others. But with Jesus there is no need to be afraid, for in our weakness and powerlessness he fills us with grace and strength.
Knowing that he is lavishly generous, we must be encouraged to come to him fearlessly in faith. We bring to him our inadequate faith so that he can increase it for us. For his care for the crowd, he performed a miracle of over abundance. There is nothing he will not do for you. May you too receive a miracle of over abundance in your life. may all that you luck be granted you in abundance in Jesus’ name. For your sake, God will overdo.
His prayer over the five loaves of bread and the two fish is described as “eucharistesos” which means thanksgiving. John uses this word because there is an emphasis and a pointing to the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. At Mass, Jesus is made present in our midst through prayers of consecration over the bread and wine. When we come to Mass, we come to receive Jesus himself who has the power to bless lavishly and in abundance. Jesus lives in us with all the grace we need to be happy and be fulfilled. We who have Jesus have the fulness of the presence of God, for in “him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9).
In the gospel of John, all the miracles are called signs, because they are meant to point to Jesus. Today, when the people saw the sign of the multiplication of bread, they saw in Jesus “the prophet who is to come”. For us, when we come to Mass and see the Holy Bread of the Altar, we see not a sign but Jesus, who has come among us.
In the multiplication of the bread, the people saw the sign of a great prophet in Jesus, their perception grew from just following him because of the miracles he did, to being convinced that he was a great prophet. But they wanted more: they wanted to make him a king.
What “more” do you want from Jesus?
God bless you.
BY Rev. Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
