Cycle B - Year I:

26 July 2015: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)

John 6:1-15


"Lord, give us this day our daily bread."


In the "Our Father", we pray that the Lord gives us this day our daily bread. What do we really mean by this prayer? Obviously, we ask for things that we need for our day-to-day living. But are we asking only for food that satisfies our physical hunger; do we ask only for things material?

For those with less in life, perhaps putting food on the table preoccupies their daily struggle. Because satisfying their physical hunger for food is a step to liberation from poverty.

The theme of this Sunday's liturgy focuses on nourishment. Our Lord Jesus Christ shows his concern for our temporal needs by feeding the multitude that followed him. For man is both body and soul while in journey in this world.

As a side note, biblical scholars say that Jesus' feeding of the five thousands is the only miracle recorded in all the four Gospel accounts (John 6:1-15, Mark 6:34-44, Matthew 14:13-21, and Luke 9:10-17).

Going back to the Gospel narratives, a great multitude had gathered to hear Jesus, because they were hungry for the word of life. But Jesus' disciples wanted to send them away at the end of the day because they did not have the resources to feed them.

One of his disciples, Andrew told Jesus that all they have is a boy who brought with him five loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?

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 the whole crowd were satisfied of their hunger. And when they had had their fill, there were still twelve wicker baskets full of loaves and fish left over.

What do we learn about God from this miracle of the loaves and the fish?

The feeding of the five thousands shows us the remarkable and overflowing generosity of God and his great kindness to us. The miracle of the multiplication of loaves emanated from the mercy and love of Jesus for the crowd that followed him. Clearly, our Lord cares for the whole man, meaning body and soul, that He takes care of our physical needs as well, in this case, including our hunger for food. It tells a lot about our Christian charity.... we share our prayers as well as our material blessings.

The Gospel narrative also reminds us that when God gives He gives abundantly. The Lord gives more than we need for ourselves so that we may have something to share with others, especially those who lack what they need to survive. In other words, Jesus teaches us that material hunger can be answered by an attitude of sharing that invites divine intervention. Because God takes the little that we have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do we trust in God's provision for our need, and do we share with others too, especially the poor in our midst?

This connects us to the Church's celebration of Fil-Mission Sunday today. Let us share our prayers and material support with our Filipino missionaries all over the world.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.


Ad Jesum per Mariam!