17th Sunday: "Food for the journey"

 

John 6: 1-15

The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072521.cfm

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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 even now to those that endure.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. 

(Collect of Mass)

If you ever wonder about the generosity of God just think of today’s 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! This became apparently more than just some for many but rather a feast of bread and fish for they all ate and were satisfied. So impressive was this event that each of the four Gospel writers relates, albeit in somewhat varied way, this miracle or "sign" as John refers to the miracles of Jesus; an indication, a sign, of who he is. 

He was absorbed in healing the sick which John tells us was a “sign.” At an earlier time he had transformed simple water in to an abundance of excellent wine. John says again that this was the first of Jesus’ public “signs” that he performed. In fact all the miracles of Jesus are referred to by John as “signs;” as more than an immediate miracle but rather visible indicator of who he is.  Here, in this miraculous abundance, he reveals through food more than just a very impressive display but in an indelible way, the generosity of God. For the early Christians, it was a memory, for some an experience, and for all a fore shadow of the Holy Eucharist.

It wasn’t just miracles which revealed the nature of Christ. 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 lavish, 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?

This Sunday’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 saw 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).

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. Yet, such spiritual insight will take time and the lived experience of the Church.

But, the crowds knew 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. This was a wise teacher they had never before encountered who could work wonders in God’s name.  “He must be the Prophet! He must be the long awaited Elijah!”

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.

As the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John continues in the next weeks, we will see a deepening of this miraculous event.  That Jesus himself is the “bread from heaven.” That the true bread he will give, as he told the woman at the well about the water he will give, will never cause thirst or hunger.  It will bring eternal life; it will be our food for the journey in this life as we look toward the next.

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.

As the crowds followed Jesus relentlessly, remember last Sunday’s Gospel as well (Mk 6: 30 – 34): “People were coming and going in great numbers” we see here our gathering from many parts, cultures and languages of the world, our gathering for the celebration of the Eucharist each week.  Christ feeds us with his Word and then profoundly feeds us with his own real presence under the signs of bread and wine, his body and blood. He not only gives bread but he himself becomes present to us as
Bread of life.

In our Mass, the “summit of the Christian life,” we are on a mountain with the Lord as the crowds who shared in that miraculous moment. Jesus created with them and now with us, 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. St. Paul reminds us today from Ephesians, that we “preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” The Eucharist by its nature implies unity and creates a unity of believers in Christ. 

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 he 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, and we are fed and sent to carry on his work.  If that doesn’t create a feeling of awe and wonder nothing will. When you attend Mass 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. More Eucharist reflection in the weeks ahead.