FIRST READING
2 Kings 4:42–44
A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God, twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits, and fresh grain in the ear. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.” But his servant objected, “How can I set this before a hundred people?” Elisha insisted, “Give it to the people to eat. For thus says the LORD, ‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’” And when they had eaten, there was some left over, as the LORD had said.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 145:10–11, 15–16, 17–18 (see 16)
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season; you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
SECOND READING
Ephesians 4:1–6
Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
ALLELUIA
Luke 7:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has risen in our midst. God has visited his people.
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 for 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 months 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 which 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 Lords Supper. When we receive from
the Lords 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 so 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 are in need?
"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."
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