GOSPEL POWER |APRIL 16, 2021 - FRIDAY | 2nd Week of Easter

 Gospel: Jn 6: 1 – 15

Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world. “When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

REFLECTION

What is the testing of Philip all about? We remember  Philip as the one who told Nathanael: “We have  found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also  the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” (Jn 1:45). If Philip  had truly grasped Jesus’ identity as Messiah, he would not have  considered feeding the crowd a big problem. He would have known  that Jesus could provide. In the Old Testament, God would test only his very own people  — those who professed faith in him — to see the genuineness of their  faith. Like Philip, crisis-situations can overwhelm us and make us  forget that God is in control... that God can and will provide. But our  failure will never stop God from acting in our favor and supplying  our needs.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, may we not only confess our faith with our lips, but let it  affect every aspect of our life and our response to every situation. Amen.