REFLECTIONS ON THE READINGS FOR THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE B

July 25th, 2021

2 Kings 4, 42-44; Ps. 145; Eph. 4, 1-6; Jn. 6, 1-15.

By +Guy Sansaricq

For the next four weeks we will be meditating prayerfully on Chapter 6 of St. John’s Gospel.The text begins with the stunning miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. Jesus feeds a multitude of five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. That mighty deed is used to introduce Jesus’ fantastic teaching on the “BREAD OF LIFE.”

This miracle is to be seen in the light of two similar mighty deeds reported in the Old Testament: first, the manna in the desert and second, the feeding of 100 people by Prophet Elijah with a handful of barley. In both cases, God fed hungry crowds with very little.

The details reported by John bring forth great teachings:

  1. Jesus does not create the food out of nothing but uses the little resources of the people. The little merchant boy had to give up his 5 loaves and 2 fisheswith great trust in Jesus who appears to require FAITH before performing his mighty deed.
  2. The Apostles are used to PUT ORDER in the crowd. The crowd that is being fed must not be in disarray. Likewise, The CHURCH must also be an organized body.
  3. Also God’s gift is abundant. There were 12 baskets of leftovers.
  4. After the miracle Jesus escapes from the crowd who wanted to make of Him their KING. The do-gooders must not seek human honor nor political stature.

Man’s spirit needs to be fed just like his body. We are called to hunger for the bread of life.