We are Called to Replicate Jesus' Multiplication Miracle by Bearing One Another for Unity with God - 17th Sunday, Cycle B

In last Sunday’s Gospel Reading (Mark 6:30-34), we reflected on Jesus’ deep compassion (σπλάγχνα/ splagchnon) for the people who were like sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34). And, it says that Jesus taught them on many things, in response (Mark 6:34). Mark did not give details as to what exactly Jesus taught them out of his deep compassion for them. Perhaps, on the Kingdom of God, as he was sent by the Father on earth to preach on the Kingdom of God (Kingdom of Heaven)(i.e. Mark 1:14,15,38,39; Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:43).

According to Mark, after Jesus fished his teaching, his disciples suggested him to send them away, saying:

This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat (Mark 6:35-36).

But Jesus said:

Give them some food yourselves (Mark 6:37a).

And the disciples protested:

Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat? (Mark 6:37b).

And Jesus said:

How many loaves do you have? Go and see (Mark 6:38a)

The disciples went, checked what they had, and replied:

Five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:38b).

So, Jesus ordered the disciples to let the people sit down and fed them by miraculously multiplying the five loaves and two fish, upon giving a blessing (Mark 6:39-44).

Thus, Jesus’ compassionate response to the people who were like sheep without a shepherd is twofold: nourishing with the Word in his teaching (Mark 6:34b) and nourishing with bread and fish upon blessing and multiplying (Mark 6:35-44). The Word and Bread to nourish us – this pattern of Jesus’ compassionate response is incorporated in Catholic Mass, which has the two major liturgical components: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Then, we are dismissed with these words, “Ite, missa est” (God, you are dismissed, God Mass is ended.), with an expectation to do the work of Jesus, such as proclaiming his Good News (Gospel), speaking on his Kingdom, sharing our encounter with Christ, and so forth. We do not just go to Mass to be nourished by Jesus the Christ with the Word and the Eucharist, but to be sent out to do his work.

From this Sunday (17^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B) to 21^st Sunday, the Sunday Mass Gospel Readings have a long break from Mark’s Gospel, as we read from John 6 during these 5 Sundays, before returning to Mark’s Gospel on 22^nd Sunday. And the Gospel Readings from this Sunday to 21^st Sundays are:

6:1-15 (17^th Sunday), 6:24-35 (18^th Sunday); 6:41-51 (19^th Sunday); 6:51-58 (20^th Sunday); 6:51-58 (21^st Sunday).

It is because John 6 not only reflects Mark 6:35-44//Matthew 13:14-21//Luke 9:12-17 (Jesus feeding the crowd by multiplying five loaves and two fish out of his deep compassion) but gives critical insight on why Jesus fed them miraculously. And the insight is known as Jesus’ Living Bread of Life Discourse (John 6:26-58), which is read for three consecutive Sundays: 6:24-35 (18^th Sunday); 6:41-51 (19^th Sunday); 6:51-58 (20^th Sunday).

Now with this in mind, let us explore the Gospel Reading for this Sunday: John 6:1-15.

John’s Gospel indicates that Jesus fed the people (John 6:1-15) after he returned to Galilee from Jerusalem, upon healing a paralyzed man by the Temple and being accused for violating the Sabbath commandment and blasphemy (John 5), while Mark says this took place upon Jesus’ twelve disciples returned from their mission (Mark 6:7-13, 30-34). But, this difference is not what matters here – unless you want to pursue this topic for your Ph.D. dissertation in biblical studies.

Our purpose here in reading John 6:1-15 on 17^th Sunday as Jesus’ deeply compassionate response to the people who looked like sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34), is to deepen our understanding on why the Father sent His only begotten Son, by incarnating Theos-Logos (John 1:1, 14) in the human flesh of Jesus through Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-21).

So, first, let us pay attention to how Jesus responded to the people (crowd), who kept pursuing him. And it is noteworthy that this took place when Passover was near (John 6:4), as this feast signifies how God began delivering the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt with unleavened bread (Exodus 12). With this in mind, we can see not only today’s Gospel Reading but the rest of the Sunday Gospel Readings until the 21^st Sunday (John 6:1-15, 24-58) in light of liberation. And it is, indeed, about how God frees us from the slavery of our carnal cravings.

Jesus saw the crowd from a high place and ordered one of his twelve disciples, Philip:

Where can we buy enough food for them to eat? (John 6:5)

It was to test him – to test his abilities of pastoral response – though Jesus knew that Philip would fail the test at this time (John 6:6).

And this is how Philip replied:

Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little bit (John 6:7).

Obviously, Philip was not answering Jesus’ question. It was more like his “excuse” for not being able to answer. He was giving his explanation why he thinks impossible to have enough food to feed the crowd.

Then another disciple, Andrew, reported Jesus about a boy with five barley loaves and two fish. But, also thought it would be impossible to feed the crowd with such a scant amount of food (John 6:8-9).

Both Philip and Andrew responded to the situation as typical humans would do. Philip thought of cost. Andrew was thinking strictly in terms of quantity.

So Jesus went ahead with his plan. He ordered the disciples to have the crowd situated for dining (John 6:10). Then, he took the loaves and gave thanks to the Father for what was found in the situation and distributed to the crowd. He did with the fish, likewise (John 6:11).

It is noteworthy that Jesus took the five loaves and gave thanks, before having them multiplying and distributing, as this is reflected on how Jesus gave thanks and broke one bread to distribute during the Last Supper in instituting the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (i.e. Matthew 26:26//Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24). And, the Last Supper was Passover Seder dinner, as desired by Jesus himself, on the night before his death (Matthew 26:17-19).

Now, what is the result of Jesus taking five loaves and two fish, giving thanks to the Father prayerfully?

The bread and fish were multiplied far more than 5,000 in the crowd and the disciples could eat! So, Jesus ordered the disciples to collect all the leftover fragments not to waste anything at all, filling twelve baskets (John 6:12-13).

Jesus made sure nothing would go wasted. Remember, he gave thanks to the Father for even a small amount of food found – though Andrew thought that was far from enough.

Do we have this kind of sense of thanksgiving to even a little thing we have? Or do we complain to God whenever we think what we have is not enough, while envying others who seem to have more?

Did the crowd benefited by Jesus’ deeply compassionate act of multiplying a scant amount of food have a sense of gratitude as Jesus does?

The Gospel text did not say whether they thanked Jesus and the disciples for feeding them. Rather, the crowd thought that Jesus was the Prophet, like Moses,  as to fulfill Deuteronomy18:15, 18 and Malachi 3:1, 23 (John 6:14).

And, Jesus knew that what was in the crowd’s minds and withdraw from them alone to the mountain (John 6:15).

So, what did Jesus see in the crowd’s mind?

Their intent to make him king (John 6:15), sensing a projection to his Passion, being (John 18:29-19:13).

Given the content of the First Reading (2 Kings 4:42-44) and what is reflected in the Responsorial Psalm (145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18), today’s Gospel Reading (John 6:1-15) can be appreciated as how our loving God provides us, out of His mercy and compassion, with food, especially in situations when we feel no more food, being on the verge of despair. The disciples had thought that there was no way to feed the crowd but Jesus made the way, by giving thanks to the Father for what was found (John 6:11-13), evoking how God will make a way where there seems to be no way (i.e. Isaiah 43:19). This aspect is a projection of the First Reading (2 Kings 4:42-44), in which Prophet Elisha, the successor of Prophet Elijah, fed 100 people with 20 loaves, empowered by God.

But the Gospel Reading today (John 6:1-15) is also a lesson to us to remember what Prophet Elisha said:

Give it to the people to eat, for thus says the Lord: You will eat and have some left over (2 Kings 4:43).

When tested by Jesus, Philip seemed to be preoccupied with himself or of the disciples’ interests (John 6:5-7). His heart was not for the crowd – though Jesus’s heart was.

Do we share what we have with others in need?

Of course we do, right? But, when we have plenty for ourselves.

The question is, in reflecting 2 Kings 4:43 to be projected in today’s Gospel Reading (John 6:1-15), do we really share with others in need, when we are worried that what we have is not even enough for our survival?

The Second Reading (Ephesians 4:1-6) reminds us that we are called to bear one another through love, with humility, gentleness, and patience, toward unity not only with each other but with our one God. Unless we can bear each other through love, we cannot be united as one with one God. And sharing what we have, even when it may not be enough for ourselves, is what “bearing one another through love” means, as demonstrated by Jesus in today’s Gospel Reading (John 6:1-15).

After all, it is in his commandment to love one another as he has loved us (John 13:34).

It does not take much to be amazed by Jesus’ awesome power and to want it to benefit our own salvation.  But, being his followers mean to think and act as Jesus did in today’s Gospel Reading (John 6:1-15), as well as, in last Sunday’s Gospel Reading (Mark 6:30-34), not as Philip and Andrew had thought.

This great miraculous sign of Jesus for feeding the crowd of 5,000 with only five loaves and two fish, as well as, feeding 100 with only 20 loaves as Elisha did, can be replicated as we bear one another through love, in our observance of Jesus’ new commandment: to love one another as he has loved us.