Word to the Wise
Sunday, July 28, 2024 - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
[2 Kgs 4:42-44; Eph 4:1-6; John 6:1-15]A man came....bringing to Elisha, the man of God, twenty barley loaves. Elisha said, "Give it to the people to eat." But his servant objected, "How can I set this before a hundred people?" Elisha insisted, "Give it to the people to eat." "For thus says the Lord, 'They shall eat and there shall be some left over.'" And when they had eaten, there was some left over, as the Lord had said. [2 Kings] 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. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted." So they collected them, and filled twelves wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley leaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world." [John]
The account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes appears in all four gospels, an indication of its importance in telling the story of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel According to John, however, the significance of the event is different. Jesus is not simply demonstrating his power, he will, in the discourse that follows the sign, be pointing to himself as "the living bread." The audience initially identifies the event with the story of Elisha in the Old Testament who presided over a multiplication of loaves in a time of famine, and were ready to proclaim Jesus as a political king. In the Gospel According to John, misunderstanding follows much of Jesus' words and deeds and he responds in discourses to explain. The significance, therefore, of this sign will unfold over the next two Sundays in what is traditionally known as "the Bread of Life discourse."
Hints of the significance in the Gospel According to John, however, can be noted in the opening lines of today's segment. The event occurs on a mountain, echoing Moses' actions. Jesus does not hand the loaves to the disciples to distribute but does that himself. The event occurs near the celebration of the Passover, just as the Last Supper would. Elisha fed a hundred but Jesus feeds five thousand! All of this will come together in the discourse which will follow.
The American bishops have been promoting a "Eucharistic revival," which was especially celebrated in a "Eucharistic congress" in Indianapolis recently. A stadium full of people received communion at a single celebration. The parallel with the gospel over the next couple of Sundays will emerge. Stay tuned!! AMEN