Word to the Wise
Sunday, July 26, 2015 - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
[2 Kgs 4:42-44; Eph 4:1-6; John 6:1-15]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. [John]
The multiplication of the loaves and fishes on its own would seem to be one of the most spectacular public actions of Jesus. The story appears in all four gospels, but the Gospel of John seems to use it in a way that is characteristic of that gospel. It is not simply one event among others, but serves as a prelude to a major "discourse" on the identity of Jesus as "the bread of life." To understand fully the significance of the "sign" that Jesus worked, I recommend to the Beloved Congregation that you read all of chapter six and then come back to the event. There is a serious challenge for us all.
There are some clues, however, in the text of the story. Jesus goes up on a mountain. We know that important things happen on mountains. Isaiah spoke of God feeding the people "on this mountain." The barley loaves would echo the story in today's first scripture about the great prophet, Elisha. The gospel author also makes it clear that Jesus' question to Philip is not a matter of ignorance or helplessness (which we would experience in the face of such a large crowd). A further clue is in the lines quoted above which show some familiarity with eucharistic practice, "Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them...." All of these clues point to the question, "Who is Jesus?" The crowd misunderstands and thinks of him in political terms as "king." We know what Pilate will ask later on in the gospel!
Given the large crowds that attend the eucharistic celebrations that take place when the Pope visits a country, it is a major logistic nightmare to distribute Holy Communion to all these people. Each one approaches the reception of the Body of Christ with his or her own understanding. Each time we do this, the question is still there for us to ask: "Who is Jesus?" I think a good reading and meditation on chapter six of the Gospel of John can help us to understand more profoundly the mystery we receive when we join that long line toward the altar! AMEN
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