GOSPEL POWER | JULY 25, 2021 SUNDAY | 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 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

In this miraculous feeding episode, the problem is not  actually the scarcity of food, but the scarcity of faith. The  crowds follow Jesus not because of faith but because of  curiosity aroused by the signs they have seen him perform among the  sick. The disciples of Jesus, who have witnessed water become wine  at Cana (cf. Jn 2:1-11), still think that the present situation is to be  resolved by ordinary human means of spending a workman’s wages  to buy bread. Only a child, in his simplicity and willingness to share  the meager food he brought, shows Jesus a spark of innocent faith  that helps him to bring about the miracle of abundance. No wonder  Jesus repeatedly says that the Kingdom of heaven belongs to the little  ones, such as this generous boy

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we ask you not for abundance of resources, but abundance of  faith that will enable us to trust you in moments of lack and deprivation.  Amen