17th Sunday of the Year - 29 July 2012

II Kings 4:42-44; Psalms 145:10-11,15-16,17-18; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 6:1-15
Paul had received a special pre- Christmas gift from his rich brother. It was a beautiful new car fully loaded and ready to go. On Christmas Eve, when Paul came out of his office, a street kid was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. "Is this your car, mister?” the kid asked. When he replied that it was and that his brother had given it to him for Christmas, the boy said, "You mean your brother gave it to you, and it didn't cost you anything? Free? For nothing? Gosh, I wish..." The boy hesitated, and Paul knew what he was about to say. He had heard it many times over the past few days. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the boy said shocked Paul. ”I wish", the boy said, "I wish I could be a brother like that." We can be a brother like that or a sister like that. All it takes is that we offer ourselves and what we have, to God. All it takes is that we cease to worry about how little we have and begin instead to think about what it is that we can offer to others, as the little boy in today’s gospel story did by sharing his bread and fish with the multitude through Jesus. (“Chicken Soup” series).

Today’s readings invite us to become humble instruments in God’s hands by sharing our blessings with our needy brothers and sisters. Miracles can happen through our hands, when we collect and distribute to the needy the food destined for all by our generous God. Today’s readings also remind us that if we have been blessed with an abundance of earthly bread or with the technical capabilities to produce such an abundance, then these gifts are for sharing with the hungry. When physical hungers are satisfied, then we are challenged to satisfy the deeper hungers - for love, mercy, forgiveness, companionship, peace and fulfilment.

In today’s First Reading, we heard of the advantages enjoyed by people of faith. Here we have the story of a man, perhaps a farmer who brought food from the first fruits to Elisha, the man of God. This generosity was in obedience to the word of God to his people through Moses to offer to God the choicest of the first fruits. United with God’s people and trusting in the Lord, Elisha commanded that the food although limited to just twenty loaves, must be given to all the people. Hearing this, the servant questioned how a hundred persons could be fed with so little food. Elisha remained confident and assured the servant that God will provide. Keeping in mind the providential care of God, Prophet Elisha repeated his command, and asked the servant to give it to the people and let them eat, for the Lord has said that they shall eat and have some left. The servant obeyed and the people had enough to eat and there was plenty left over. Such is the bounty available to people of faith and we perceive God’s care towards his chosen people. This also indicates the joy of generous giving and the joy of receiving. Today’s psalm gives us the assurance that it is “the hand of the Lord that feeds us,” and that it is God who “answers all our needs.”

Paul in today’s Second Reading, invites his Ephesian converts to live a life worthy of the calling to which they have been given, in humility, in gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. In other words St. Paul reminds the Ephesians that Jesus united the Jews and the Gentiles by bringing them together as Christians in one faith and one baptism, and, hence, they have to live together, helping each other by sharing their blessings. Paul urges us to become communities of sharing Christians.

Today’s Gospel narrative of the feeding of the five thousand may seem humanly impossible, but when God is pleased with his children, nothing is impossible. The source of the food is the little boy that gave up his food for Jesus to share it with the others. We also heard that the disciples obeyed Jesus and did whatever he asked them to do. They had faith in their master and their task was to obey. The miraculous feeding as described here is associated with the Holy Eucharist early in the Church’s tradition. The people immediately interpreted the miracle, giving Jesus two Messianic titles: "The prophet” and "the one who is to come." This miracle teaches us that God works marvels through ordinary people. Elisha’s servant and Jesus’ disciples distributed the bread provided by God through generous people who were willing to share their food with the hungry. Thus, God meets the needs of people through the goodwill and services provided by members of His community

Jesus proceeded to do two things: First, he had the crowd of over five thousand and he asked the disciples to make the people to sit down on the grass as if they were preparing to have a meal. Secondly, after giving thanks Jesus himself fed the entire crowd with the five barley loaves and two fish. We are only told that Jesus did this and we are not told how he did it. Not only was everyone fed, but there were twelve baskets of fragments left over. These people are those who were united in the Spirit in obedience and ate as much as they wanted. This action of Jesus is a sign which reveals something about him on a very deep level. He is the bread of life and he feeds his people. The story is filled with Eucharistic overtones. Passover celebrates the gift of manna and here Jesus celebrates the bread of life. Even the word fragments were used early on in the church to refer to the Eucharistic bread.

Some even stress that the “miracle” took place because of the boy’s generosity which resulted in many others generously sharing what food they had brought with the strangers around them. Again this was based on the teaching of Jesus on love and charity and sharing with others what little they have. It does require a kind of miracle to break through people’s self-centeredness and their concern for their own security. Normally the law of life centres round self and does not go beyond. Selfishness often dominates our life. The little boy broke the ice by giving what little he had. People are dying of hunger and malnutrition in our world, not because of a lack of food but because of poor distribution. The food is there; it is the will to share it or the means to produce it that is lacking. They are not poor, but rather impoverished!

This is the charity and sharing Jesus taught in the miracle. This is what Paul told Corinthians when spoke to them on Eucharist. He used strong words to tell Christians who wanted to celebrate the Eucharist but refused to help the needy members of their community. This may look a bit strange yet we see that the Eucharist that we are celebrating every day is also about giving, about loving and about sharing. The bread which has been offered by all is blessed at the consecration, then broken and divided and given out to all.

Often we miss a special task of Jesus in this episode. In the Synoptic Gospels, it is the disciples who are told to distribute the bread and fish among the people. But here in John, it is Jesus himself who distributes: John is soon going to record Jesus’ words about his being the Living Bread which gives life to the world. Even though there are intermediaries, it is always Jesus himself who comes to us in Word and Eucharist. John wants to emphasize that Jesus is the source of all nourishment, spiritual and material. He personally shares himself even today. The immediate reaction of the people is to make him their King, Messiah. Jesus’ response is to flee into the hills. He escapes the temptation to power and stays away from such a situation. We ask the grace from Jesus to be of service to all and continue the mission of Jesus.

Although Jesus had the intention of preparing the minds of the multitude for his discourse on the heavenly food which he would make the following day, his principal motive in working this miracle was pity and compassion. This miracle convinces us that Jesus is interested in our daily needs too. He is there willing to help us and He comes to us in our needs. By doing so He is inviting us to a life of compassion for others in need.

Therefore, while today’s readings tell us that God really cares about His people He also tells us that there is enough and more for everybody. Studies show that the world today produces enough food grains to provide for every human being on the planet. Hence, let us pray and work for better social justice in all communities and countries. Moreover, as Christians we need to commit ourselves to share and to work with God in communicating His compassion to all as the early Christians did. God always blesses those who share their blessings and talents with loving commitment. We can begin our own humble efforts at "sharing" right in our parish by participating in the works of charity done by various organizations.

Let us, during the Eucharist, experience this providential care of our God and become motivated to serve Him in our less fortunate brothers and sisters.