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507 Fifth StreetSEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
For the next five weeks, the Lectionary interrupts our reading from Mark’s short Gospels and inserts Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel which is Jesus’ discourse on the Bread of Life. In addition to the miracle of the loaves and fishes, Chapter 6 of John gives us Jesus’ long discourse, which spells out for us the meaning of the miracle. In his Bread of Life discourse, Jesus gradually reveals his true identity and invites us into a life of union with him. For the next four Sundays, the first readings are stories of extraordinary feedings obviously chosen to parallel Jesus’ discourse on the Bread of Life.
FIRST READING: 2 Kings 4:42-44
An unnamed man brings to the shrine twenty barley loaves, representing the first fruits of the harvest. Normally, these would be offered to God in thanksgiving for the harvest. But in this case, the prophet Elisha orders that the bread be given to the one hundred starving men. The donor objects, thinking that twenty will not be nearly enough to feed a hundred men. The prophet Elisha insists that the bread will be enough, saying that is what God wants: “Thus says the Lord.” Not only will there be enough bread but also leftovers, to stress the generosity of God. The key point in this story is the efficacy of the Word of God delivered through a “man of God.”
SECOND READING: Ephesians 4:1-6
The unity within the Church is the central theme of this reading. This unity is grounded in our belonging to one Body of Christ and to one faith and one baptism. Paul names some relational virtues that would foster community harmony. Humility and gentleness would help keep a strong ego in check. Patience (which literally means long-tempered as opposed to short-tempered) and forbearance are two aspects of the same attitude or fruit of the Spirit.
GOSPEL: John 6:1-15
John’s miracles are a sign pointing to a deeper reality, namely, the identity of Jesus. The miracle of the loaves and fishes (the only miracle that appears in all four Gospels) reveals to us One who feeds not only our belly hunger, but also our soul hunger. Jesus presents himself as the one who feeds our deepest needs. The miracle has strong eucharistic overtones, reminiscent of the Last Supper when Jesus takes bread, blesses it, and distributes it to them. John’s Gospel does not have a story of Jesus instituting the Eucharist. Chapter 6 is John’s teaching on the Eucharist.
The twelve baskets of leftovers stress the abundance that characterizes the Messianic era. The Gospel ends with the crowds misunderstanding the miracle or sign that Jesus has just worked. When the people see what a wonderful Wonder Worker Jesus is, they want to make him King who will drive out the Romans and take care of their material needs. Jesus wants them to see him as One who will nourish their souls’ deepest needs without, of course, ignoring their other needs.
The boy in the Gospel shares his small food resource which becomes a big blessing for others. What gift do you need to share so that God can use it to bless others?