Gospel Reflection for July 25th : 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time By Br Michael Moore OMI
Offering to Jesus whatever we have
For the next four Sundays the gospel will be taken from chapter six of John’s gospel. There is no last supper or meal in John’s gospel. But this chapter more than makes up for this. Next week we will hear Jesus say clearly I am the Bread of life.
Today the crowd follow Jesus because they were impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. He notices that there is a large crowd and that they are hungry. He asks Philip, ‘where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ Philip responded ‘two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ This was about six month’s wages – quite a lot then! Andrew says that there is a boy with five loaves of bread and two fish. This happens after Jesus had changed the water into wine at Cana and still his followers are not convinced about Jesus and who he is. This gospel is more than likely not about the lack of food but more about the lack of faith! Jesus took the meagre bread and fish, gave thanks for them and gave it to all who were there and all had as much as they wanted. After teaching them and healing them Jesus then feeds them. He cares for them at all levels; mind, body and spirit.
There are clear images of the Eucharist in this gospel. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed them to the people and all had as much as they wanted. Like those in the gospel who came to Jesus in need, many times so do we. While at mass, we offer ordinary bread and wine and through the power of the Holy Spirit, they are transformed into the extraordinary; the miraculous – they are given back to us as the Body and Blood of Jesus. Through the Eucharist, Jesus continues to feed, nurture and nourish each of us. Through sharing in and celebrating the Eucharist we too are transformed; we are renewed, restored and refreshed.
I believe that when we are at mass and we present the bread and wine we are also called to offer God our own daily lives. If we can offer ourselves generously and in faith God will accept us and whatever we offer. We too will be blessed and transformed. Then we will be asked to go to love and serve the Lord by loving and serving each other. Having been fed and strengthened by the Lord, we in turn are asked to feed and strengthen each other in whatever way we can. The multiplication of the loaves and transformation of the bread and wine at the Eucharist are miracles of generosity. During the Eucharist we experience the gracious generosity of God and then we are asked to be generous with each other. The experience of celebrating the Eucharist with each other should encourage us, broaden our outlook and enlarge our hearts so that we can be considerate and generous towards others, especially towards those who are poor in any way.
The Eucharist is God’s greatest gift to us. It’s not our right, we didn’t earn it and we can’t demand it. It is a celebration of love and generosity to which we are invited. Like those in the gospel Jesus continues to strengthen, feed and encourages us.
Br Michael Moore OMI
Through the Eucharist Jesus continues to love, heal and forgive us. As Pope Francis reminds us; ‘The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.’ That’s all and each of us!
– Br Michael Moore OMI
| John 6:1-15 © |
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