FIRST READING
Acts 5:34-42
A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time, and said to the Sanhedrin, “Fellow children of Israel, be careful what you are about to do to these men. Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing. After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census. He also drew people after him, but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered. So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him. After recalling the Apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
One thing I ask of the LORD this I seek: To dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
Matthew 4:4b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
John 6:1-15
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.
REFLECTIONS:
Can anything on this earth truly satisfy the deepest
longing and hunger we experience God? A great multitude had gathered to
hear Jesus, no doubt because they were hungry for the word of life. Jesus’
disciples wanted to send them away at the end of the day because they did
not have the resources to feed them. They even complained how much money
it would take to feed such a crowd – at least six month’s wages! Jesus,
the Bread of Life, took the little they had – five loaves and two
fish – and giving thanks to his heavenly Father, distributed to all until
they were satisfied of their hunger. The people of Israel had been waiting
for the prophet whom Moses had promised: The Lord your God will raise
up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brethren – him shall
you heed (Deuteronomy 18:15). The signs which
Jesus did, including the miraculous feeding of the five thousand signified
that God has indeed sent him as anointed Prophet and King. Jesus' feeding
of the five thousand is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels.
What is the significance of this miracle? The miraculous feeding of such
a great multitude pointed to God's provision of manna in the wilderness
for the people of Israel under Moses' leadership. This food foreshadowed
the true heavenly bread which Jesus would offer his followers.
Jesus makes a claim only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven
that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience. The sign of the multiplication
of the loaves when the Lord says the blessing, breaks and distributes through
his disciples prefigures the superabundance of the unique bread of his
Eucharist or Lord’s Supper. When we receive from the Lord’s table we unite
ourselves to Jesus Christ, who makes us sharers in his body and blood.
Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 A.D.) calls it the "one bread that provides
the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that
makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ" (Ad Eph. 20,2). This supernatural
food is healing for both body and soul and strength for our journey heavenward.
When you approach the Table of the Lord, what do you expect to receive?
Healing, pardon, comfort, and rest for your soul? The Lord has much more
for us, more than we can ask or imagine. The principal fruit of receiving
the Eucharist is an intimate union with Christ. As bodily nourishment restores
lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens us in charity and enables us
to break with disordered attachments to creatures and to be more firmly
rooted in the love of Christ. Do you hunger for the "bread of life"?
The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of
God and his great kindness towards us. When God gives, he gives abundantly.
He gives more than we need for ourselves that we may have something to
share with others, especially those who lack what they need. God takes
the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do you trust
in God's provision for you and do you share freely with others, especially
those who lack?
"Lord Jesus, you satisfy the deepest longing of our heart and you feed
us with the finest of wheat (Psalm 81:16). Fill me
with gratitude and give me a generous heart that I may freely share with
others what you have given to me."
No comments:
Post a Comment