[Salvation]

17th Sunday: God is not stingy

2 Kings 4: 42-44

Eph 4: 1-6

Jn 6: 1-15

The Word for Sunday: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072615.cfm

If you ever wonder about the generosity of God just think of today Gospel.  The miraculous feeding of more than 5000 hungry people, “as much as they wanted,” must have been astounding, not to mention all that was left over! So impressive was this event that each of the four Gospel writers relates, albeit in somewhat varied way, this miracle. 

If that isn’t enough, think of the wedding feast of Cana (Jn 2: 1-11). Jesus did not only turn water into a fine vintage of wine but 180 gallons of it and more than saved the day for the newly married couple.  Who said Jesus didn’t know how to have a good time. 

What about Jesus teaching on forgiveness (Mt 18: 21-22) in which Peter was likely amazed at his answer that forgiveness has no limits.  Or the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the Prodigal Son (Lk 15: 1- 32) which emphasizes our value in God’s eyes and our call to forgive as we have been forgiven over and over and over again. 

There are multiple other examples that Jesus always responded in a generous, unexpected way to those who asked him.  The ultimate example of course was the sacrifice of his own life for the sake of restoring a broken humanity with God and his promise of eternal life for those who believe.  What more could he possibly have done that would prove God will never be equaled in his giving?

So, today’s familiar Gospel story about feeding thousands of hungry people is far more than an amazing tour de force. Did Jesus do this in order to draw attention to himself and his power?  The crowds may have thought so or at least the potential of what more could be done by him as king. John states: “Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make hi king,” so “he withdrew again to the mountain alone.” (Jn 6: 15).  

This response of the crowds shows that they didn’t yet know who Jesus was or what he was or why he came.  We do for we live with the benefit of history so we must look back. But, honestly, how aware are we really?  How deeply do we know the Lord as the source of all we have and do? The crowds knew was that he was different, very different.  That he could work wonders and speak with great authority so it’s no surprise they turned out in droves.

Yet, at the base reaction of the crowds and not just with this impressive display of power was a sense of awe and they wanted more.  They misread Jesus and he wanted them to look beyond the bread and fish they just ate to see himself as the Bread of Life.

The impoverished crowds, understandably, wanted to make him their king.  In doing so he would release the bondage of Rome and create a nation in which prosperity would reign. For all of that reason, Jesus ran away from them.

We, like the desperate crowds, could become all caught up in a discussion over whether the bread and fish were actually multiplied or whether the crowds were moved to share with one another from whatever meager provisions they may have brought individually.

Now, since none of us were there the safer bet is to assume what the Gospel writers clearly imply – that thousands of people suddenly had food to eat and Jesus himself was the reason for that.

Still, the focus is not so much on the bread and fish but on the person of Christ himself.  As the Gospel of John continues in this sixth chapter we see a deepening of this miraculous event.  That Jesus himself is the “bread from heaven.” 

Our Catholic mind and heart so rightly goes to the Eucharist.  The Gospel writers and the early Christian communities saw in this event a fore shadow of the holy Eucharist. The sign is not centered only on what Jesus can do but rather on who he is. In both word and action he uncovers the truth of God’s mystery.  Faith in him will bring abundance – not wealth and power but God’s grace and eternal life.

What did Jesus ultimately do for the people?  He created with them a connection, a sense of community with himself as the source of that event.  So too in the liturgy, we come together as brothers and sisters in the Lord and a sense of community is present. Our liturgies since the reform of Vatican II have done this powerfully.

Yet, are we there just to catch up on the past week?  Many do but the far greater reason we are there to share in the bread of life from the only one who can feed us – his own body and blood – Christ himself. This is great mystery and deserves a faith filled response.

In the miracle story, Jesus “took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them.” So too in the Mass, bread is received, offered in thanksgiving, transformed to his presence, and then distributed so that all can be fed. This bread is not like the bread they ate or the manna in the desert we hear referred to by Elisha the prophet in the first reading.  This bread will satisfy in a way unlike barely loaves and fish only give temporary relief. 

God is not stingy but he measures far beyond our expectations and will never be outdone.  Of that we are assured.  Our celebration of the Eucharist is a moment to connect with the source of life itself.  We are all hungry and as we heard last week, “he taught them many things.” His word satisfied and fed their hunger – our sharing in the Word of God each Mass is food for the soul.

But now Jesus himself not only speaks he also touches the very core of our existence, the need for nourishment.  His bread goes beyond the material need we all have to feed our bodies.  It is food for the journey of our lives.

Many are gathered, a sense of community, a word is shared, food is offered then transformed, we are fed and then sent to carry on his work.  If that doesn’t create a feeling of awe and wonder nothing will. When you attend Mass this weekend or the next time you go, plug into this great mystery and find a deeper respect.  Don’t ever take this for granted because there is nothing that will ever equal what God has done and continues to do in and through his Church.

O God, protector of those who hope in you,

without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, 

bestow in abundance your mercy upon us

and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide,

we may use the good things that pass  

in such a way as to hold fast ever now

to those that ever endure.  

(Collect of Mass)

[Salvation]

Regnum Christi

A Miracle That Kept on Giving

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

July 26, 2015. Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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 bit." One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to hima, "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.

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that you, the Holy Trinity, dwell in my soul. Thank you for the joy of your friendship and love. I hope in you; I hope that you will guide me and my loved ones home to heaven, where we can delight in your presence forever. I love you and long to be a better instrument of your love.

Petition: Lord, help me to achieve an unconditional trust in you.

1. A Test to Get Us to Grow in Trust: It was clear that Jesus’ disciples did not have the means to help these people out of their predicament -- neither in ready available cash nor in locating a nearby market large enough to feed the overburdening crowd. Yet Scripture says, “He said this to test him.” Let this passage remind us that God can allow our problems to become so big and desperate as to show forth his power. God wants us to trust in him and to purify our intentions along our journey of faith. How great our Lord is in solving the unsolvable and making possible the impossible. He cures the incurable, raises people from the dead, and, most importantly, converts the erring sinner. “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:38). Do I easily give up hope when I don’t see a human solution to a situation? Blessed is he who believes that what the Lord promises will be fulfilled (Cf. Luke 1:46).
   

2. Our Lord Wants Us to Play a Part in His Miracle: God has the power of creating something out of nothing, but he asks for human collaboration, even if it is minimal. Here it is no different. The apostles are utterly poor: they can bring to Our Lord only five loaves and two fish from a boy they find in the crowd. Jesus asks us to contribute because he wants to teach us to be generous, even when we think we have nothing to give. Actually, it is when we give from our want that we most please Our Lord (Cf. Luke 21:1-4). Poverty is never an excuse for a lack of generosity in serving and working for Our Lord. This miracle proves to us that Our Lord can never be outdone in generosity.
   

3. Don’t Miss the Point: In this scene Our Lord slowly prepared his apostles and disciples for his teaching on the Real Presence in the Eucharist. He had to purify their hearts and prune out attachment to the things of this world in order for them to accept the difficult teaching about his self-giving love found in the Eucharist. Even so, when he saw that the people were about to miss the point of his miracle, Our Lord “withdrew again to the mountain alone” (John 6:15). Sometimes Our Lord withdraws the comfort and consolation of his presence in our lives because we wrongly interpret their meaning and purpose. Do I properly discern the spirit in my heart when I pray? Am I happy only for things that gives me comfort, or am I truly coming closer to Christ because I recognize who he is and return to him the same authentic love he gives me and wants from me?
   

Conversation with Christ: Thank you, Lord, for this meditation and the lessons I learned from it. Keep me generous so I may never lose my trust in you. When the situations of my life seem unsolvable, help me to trust that in your time, you will work your wonders in my life, bringing glory to your name.

Resolution: I will make a visit to the Eucharist or a spiritual communion each day this week, offering this sacrifice of time for the conversion of the hearts of those who do not believe, do not adore, do not trust, or do not love you, Lord, in the Eucharist.