THE WORD (Source: John 6.1-15)
Multiplication of the Loaves.
1 After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee [of Tiberias].
2 A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.
4 The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
5 When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip,c “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”
6 He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little [bit].”
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”
10 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.
11 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.
12 When th-ey had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”
13 So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
14 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.”
15 Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
A REFLECTION
The story of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes appears seven times in the gospel! This reflects the deep impression of these events on the early Church. Six times we hear the story in Matthew, Mark and Luke; and John, as above, has a similar version – We hear much the same words at the Last Supper and echoed by Paul in 1 Corinthians. – “He took the bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them . . . “ And we hear these very words when we join in prayer at the Holy Mass! 2,000 years later! Take some time – reflect on this – Jesus still speaks to us – still feeds us.
MY PRAYER
Today’s Gospel offers a wonderful opportunity for prayer, a meditation using St. Ignatius contemplation of presence. Please –Stop or a moment – relax -recall that God is with you –close your eyes, and be silent – to observe – to listen – to take part.
Look and see a large crowd pressing in on Jesus – imagine yourself a little child bringing the bread and fish to Jesus – imagine yourself distributing the food to the hungry people:
Thank you, Jesus, for calling me and letting me help you share your Life with others .
