Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Psa 144:10-11,15-18; Eph 4:1-6; John 6:1-15
Theme: THE SOCIETY NEEDS YOU AND YOUR TALENT!
Dearest in Christ, the first twelve chapters of the gospel according to John is taken scholarly as Book of signs because in this part of John’s gospel one finds all the seven signs (miracles) performed by Jesus and recorded in John’s gospel. Instead of calling these deeds of Jesus miracles, John prefers ‘sign’ (σημεῖον, semeion) because the emphasis is not so much on what is done (the deed) but on who does it (the doer). Each of the signs reveal something about who
Jesus is.
In today’s gospel, in feeding the five thousand men with five loaves of barley bread and two fish, John presents Jesus as the Bread of Life.
a. Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?
In Mark’s gospel, the feeding of the five thousand happened after the apostles came back from mission and Jesus requested them to go to a lonely place and rest, that means, if we had remained with Mark, the gospel reading of today would have been a continuation of the reading of 16th Sunday. But from this 17th Sunday to 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, we will have a break from Mark and stay for a little while with John. (N.B: we must not forget that the Lectionary dedicates no liturgical year to the gospel of St. John. John’s gospel is rather taken up whenever it is necessary in the three cycles. This is exactly what we have here).
So, if we are to make connection between the last Sunday’s reading (Mk 6:30-34) and that of today (Jn 6:1-15) we can say that it is the same crowd whom Jesus had taught that he now wants to feed. This goes well with our liturgy where the teaching of the Word prepares us to participate at the Eucharistic feast of the Lord. “Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?” This was the question Jesus posed to Philip. In this question we can see the following: Jesus’ already concluded intention to feed the people; Jesus’ acknowledgement that he and the disciples do not have the bread for the feeding; Jesus’ aim to see how Philip would come up with a solution.
The response of Philip was that of ‘impossibility resulting from insufficiency. ’Yes, Philip had no problem with Jesus wishing to feed such a large crowd, but he does not believe that there is any amount spent on bread that would be enough to feed the crowd. “Six months’ wages (or two hundred denarii) worth of bread would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little” was the response of Philip. That means, Philip was saying something like “even if we spend all our earnings on this project, it will be still insufficient.” Hence, for Philip, no matter how big what one has, it will still not be sufficient for all, so why waste time and resources?
b. “What are five barley loaves and two fish among so many people?”
The ‘totally impossible’ view of Philip was followed by Andrew’s little positive step. As Philip was explaining how Jesus’ desire is unthinkable and impossible to bring about because of the unbalance equation between the number of people and the available resources, Andrew discovered a small boy (παιδάριον, Paidarion) with five barley loaves and two fish.
Considering the status of children and women among the Jews then, looking for and finding a solution in a little boy (a lad) is almost the last thing one would expect. Then coming to the bread, John emphasizes that it is not just any kind of bread but barley. Apart from the Passover significance of barley bread, bread from barley (rather than wheat) is the cheapest bread and mostly reserved for the poor class.
Hence, a small boy with barley bread tells us how poor the gift (barley bread) is seen, and how insignificant the bearer (a lad) was considered. Both the bearer and the gift worth no consideration, thus after Andrew said, “there is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish” he added “but what are they among so many people?” (Jn 6:9).
c. The Insufficiency and Negligible becomes more than enough and worthy to be gathered and preserved.
The five loaves made from barley, and the two fish moved from the hands of the little boy into Jesus’ hands, and insufficiency becomes transformed in Thanksgiving to the Father, the owner of even the meagre of gifts. Unlike Philip who concluded, “NO WAY”, unlike Andrew who said, “even these (bread and fish of a little boy) are nothing”, Jesus took the gifts of the little boy, and presented them to the Father in thanksgiving. The scripture says that when Jesus had
taken the loaves, he gave thanks (εὐχαριστέω, eucharisteo).
The verb εὐχαριστέω (eucharisteo) which translates “to give thanks” although in this context, can be seen as thanksgiving before meal, goes also to define a situation in which “the recipient of a favour reciprocates with assurance of goodwill,” a situation in which one shows gratitude for certain gifts. In this context, is Jesus making a thanksgiving before meal or thanking God for such a gift from him? The two go together. In giving thanks before meal, one thanks and appreciates God who provides the meal and the gift. So unlike Philip who did not even care to notice the little boy’s gifts, and Andrew who saw the boy and his gifts but looked down on them, Jesus took the gifts and gave thanks to God.
Having thanked God for the gifts (bread and fish) Jesus put it for the use of all. Five loaves of barley bread and two fish became enough for all. And not only that, but its pieces also become so much important that Jesus asked his disciples to gather the leftovers. Andrew who did not see any value in five whole loaves of bread and two fishes, participated in picking and preserving the pieces from them.
LESSONS
1. Dearest in Christ, in life, sometimes we face a decisive battle between the good project we want to do, and the resources available to us. In this situation, we must expect Philippian and Andrean-like voices either from within us or from family and friends.
Some voices will say to you, “It is not possible because you do not have what it takes to carry out the project” (Philipian attitude). Some other voices will tell you, “O yes, you have resources/talents but they are almost equal to nothing (Andrean attitude).” But Jesus tells us today, no talent or resource is small for God’s work. Even with that particular job, talent, meagre resources etc which you have and which you always consider nothing when compared to what is needed humanly speaking, God can transform it to something big and surplus when accepted in Thanksgiving and offered to God in love and service.
2. We must never neglect the gifts found in others. God is the giver of all talents and no matter how meagre a talent might seem, it is enough for God’s work. In our society, we tend to neglect the little efforts of people and concentrate on those who do it in a big way. No talent is nothing when it comes to building a godly community.
3. Do not wait until you have humanly and quantitatively enough. Many people have failed to achieve something because they were waiting for when the resources would be enough quantitatively. Someone wants to build a house, instead of beginning with that 2k in his account, he keeps waiting for when he will hit billions. God does not need numbers and quantities for him to build that greatness in us. He only wants us to put into use that talent, resources, which we consider small or nothing. He wants us to present what he has given us in thanksgiving and pour it out for his multiplications.
4. In community building, let us not be among those who believe that they have nothing to contribute. And let us not be among those who will be discouraging others, telling them, “this is impossible….this is beyond you….you do not have what it takes…this is a waste of time…etc” rather let us be the type that will encourage others and bring
positivity into their lives.
5. Whatever is shared in love always satisfies and remains. We see this both in the first reading and in the gospel. Jesus is the Bread of Life and a compassionate friend. He has desire always to provide for our needs and to feed us. But he needs us to bring forward the precious gifts which God has put into us. God uses what he has given us to work miracles among us. Let us, as the little boy, not hide our gifts but always be willing to bring out what we have for the good of others for only then will God multiply what seem to be small and insufficient in us, to be great and sufficiently in abundance.
Rev. Fr. Nnamah Henry Chukwuezugo
Catholic Diocese of Aguleri