Inspirations of the Holy Spirit

Year B

- 17th Sunday in ordinary time

Feeding of the five thousand

John 6:1-15

1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias.
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
3 Jesus therefore went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
4 Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand.
5 When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes, and seen that a very great multitude came to him, he said to Philip: Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6 And this he said to try him; for he himself knew what he would do.
7 Philip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little.
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him:
9 There is a boy here that has five barley loaves, and two fishes; but what are these among so many?
10 Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In the same manner also of the fishes, as much as they would.
12 And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost.
13 They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten.
14 Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet, that is to come into the world.
15 Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force, and make him king, fled again into the mountain himself alone.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

God is a God full of surprises. That day a great crowd had gathered, many attracted out of curiosity, others with the spiritual need to see the new prophet perform his miracles and reveal his new ideas.
My miracles had made impact in many minds, they had realized that I had a new teaching which was accompanied by supernatural signs, some commented that I could be Elijah, others the Messiah, but people were not sure, however the spirit brought them to that place.

My apostles had no idea of how we were going to feed the multitude that was hungry after following me. I looked up to heaven, took the loaves and the fishes that they gave me, I gave thanks to my Father and asked Him for food for them, then I advised them to lie down and wait for their turn to eat, after that, they all ate and there were even twelve baskets filled with the leftovers.

People after realizing what a great miracle had occurred, wanted to make me their King by force; I had to run away from that place. I came not so much to feed the body, but the soul, this multiplication of the loaves and the fishes is a symbol of the eucharistic multiplication of the bread of life that I have come to offer, the food for the soul that God sends from Heaven in abundance.

Many were expecting a powerful king that would free them from the slavery of the Roman Empire, when they saw my prodigies they imagined many material things except that I was going to free them from the slavery of sin.

All my miracles were temporary signs that would bring a special relief from those moments or situations, but they represented healings of the soul. The change of the water into wine represented the new wine, which is living water of the Spirit, which all those who are spiritually thirsty must drink. The blind that received their sight represented those who are blind in the spirit and need to open their eyes to see my way, the lepers who were healed represented the souls wounded by sin and who need my healing, the mute who were able to speak represented those who don’t speak with God and need the spirit in order to praise God, the paralytic and the lame who were able to walk represent those who can not walk well for lack of faith and who need spiritual health. The deaf who were able to hear represented those who have not been able to understand my word, but who listen finally to my message through the action of my Spirit. Those who were dead and brought to life represented the transformation of the soul who is dead because of sin, but who is brought to life again after a conversion.

Now, the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes represented the multiplication of my Church, the great promised banquet, the new manna which has come down from heaven and is the new food for the people of God. This miracle was a preparation for my people, who are to feel hunger for the Bread of Life, who has come down from Heaven to give strength to the soul, this miracle was a preparation for the greatest miracle which I performed, at the Holy Supper, in which I consecrated the bread as my body, and the wine as my blood.

All miracles prior to the institution of the Holy Eucharist fulfilled their purpose, however my living bread is the continuous miracle that represents my sacrifice in Calvary, it is the food of the soul that feeds my people until the end of times.

Come, come, I invite you, eat of this food that has been sent from heaven, it does not cost you money, it fills the soul, it nourishes the spirit and purifies it of sin by giving it eternal life.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

Archdiocese of Washington

What Are Your Five Loaves and Two Fishes? A Homily for the 17th Sunday of the Year

Msgr. Charles Pope • July 25, 2015 •

We have in today’s gospel the very familiar miracle of the loaves and the fishes. One is tempted to say, “Oh, that one …” and then tune out. But the gospel today contains a personal appeal from the Lord’s lips to your (my) ears: “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”

Immediately, objections begin to pop up in our minds. But let’s be still and allow the Lord to instruct us by applying this Gospel in three stages.

I would like to apply this gospel in such a way as to illustrate our need to evangelize the culture in which we currently live. It is an immense task, one that can overwhelm us, and yet the Lord still bids us to get busy and join him in feeding the multitudes.

I. THE IMAGE THAT IS EXTOLLED – The text says, Jesus went up on the mountain and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him.

The text says that Jesus saw a large crowd. I wonder if we do? Generally today when we think of the Church, we think of declining numbers. This is because we tend to think in terms of the number of members. In contrast, Jesus thinks in terms of those who need to be reached. And, as we know well, the number of those who need to be reached IS large! So while it seems clear to us that the gospel is currently “out of season,” we must never forget that everyone is precious to the Lord; He wants to reach all and feed them with His grace, mercy, truth, and love.

So, the image that is extolled is that of need, not of believers and non-believers. Is this how you and I see the world? Jesus sees all the world as a vineyard, as a mission field. He sees all as hungry, no matter how obstinate they are. It is a sad fact that many reject the food we in the Church offer; many even deny that they are hungry. But they are hungry and Jesus is about to ask our help in feeding them. Thus, while we may see opponents to the faith, this text lifts up an image that is rooted in the universal human problem of hunger, physical and spiritual.

II. THE INSUFFICIENCY THAT IS EXPRESSED – The text says, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” Jesus said this to test Philip, 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 fishes; but what good are these for so many?”

There is a human tendency to feel overwhelmed. This is understandable since the task of evangelizing and feeding the world is daunting to say the least.

Yet note that they are NOT without any resources. It may seem insufficient, but it is not nothing.

And so it is for us who may feel overwhelmed by the cultural meltdown taking place before our very eyes. It seems that every number we want to go down is going up, and every number we want to go up is going down. The cultural war seems to be occurring on multiple fronts: family, marriage, sexuality, life issues, religious freedom, schools, church attendance, the rise of secularism and atheism, and the lack of personal responsibility and self-control.

The list could go on and on. It is not difficult to demonstrate that the disrepair in our culture is enormous. The task of evangelizing our culture may seem far more difficult than coming up with two hundred days’ wages.

But note that Jesus says, “Where can WE” get enough to solve the problem. For it is not only up to us, mere mortals, to resolve the grave issues of our day. The Lord asks us to work with Him. Now, it would seem, we have a fighting chance!

III. THE IMMENSITY THAT IS EXPERIENCED – 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.

By now this story is so familiar that we are not shocked by the outcome. But no matter how many times we hear it, we still do not really accept its astonishing truth.

I can do all things in God who strengthens me (Phil 4:13).
All things are possible to him who believes (Mk 9:23).
For man it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God (Mk 10:27).
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness (2 Cor 9:10).

We all know that this world is in an increasingly bad state. The problems seem overwhelming and our resources seem so limited to turn back the tide. What will we ever do with only five loaves and two fishes?

Jesus says, “Bring them to me.”

A journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step. The conversion of the whole world begins with me. As I look the huge problems before me, I (this means you) assess my loaves and fishes:

I work on my own conversion. A holier world has to start with me. If I get holier, the world gets holier.
I look to the poor I can serve, maybe with money, maybe by using my talents to tutor or counsel, maybe just by giving of my time to listen.
I pick up the phone and call a family member who I know is hurting.
I love my spouse and my children.
I spend time raising my children to know the Lord and to seek His kingdom.
I exhort the weak in my own family. With love, I rebuke sin and encourage righteousness.
If I am a priest or religious, I faithfully live my vocation and heroically call others to Christ by teaching and proclaiming the gospel without compromise.
If I am young, I seek to prepare myself devoutly for a vocation to marriage, the priesthood, or religious life.
If I am older, I seek to manifest wisdom and to provide a good example to the young.
If I am elderly, I seek to prepare myself for death devoutly and to display the desire for Heaven.
I pray for this world and attend Mass faithfully, begging God’s mercy on this sin-soaked world.

It is too easy to lament the condition of the world and, like the Apostles, to feel overwhelmed. Jesus says, “Just bring me what you have and let’s get started.” The conversion of the whole world will begin with me, with my meager loaves and fishes.

Jesus will surely multiply them; He will not fail. Already there is renewal evident in the Church, through a faithful remnant willing to bring their loaves and fishes (some of the things mentioned above and more besides). They are bringing them to Jesus and He is multiplying them. Renewal is happening; signs of spring are evident in the Church.

There is an old saying that it is easier to wear slippers than to carpet the whole of the earth. Indeed it is. If it is a converted world that you want, start with yourself. Bring your loaves and fishes to Jesus; bring your slippers and let’s get started. It begins with me.

This song says,

If I can help somebody, as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody, with a word or song,
If I can show somebody, how they’re traveling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain.

If I can do my duty, as a good man ought,
If I can bring back beauty, to a world up wrought,
If I can spread love’s message, as the Master taught,
Then my living shall not be in vain.