Saturday, 27 July 2024

 

SUNDAY- 17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

I Reading: 2 Kings 4: 42-44: They will eat and have some left over.

II Reading: Ephesians 4: 1-6: One Body, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.

Gospel: John 6:1-15: Jesus gave out as much as was wanted to all who were sitting ready.

 

Jesus feeds the crowd of more than five thousand people with five barley of bread and two fish. In John’s Gospel, Jesus’ multiplication of the loaves and fish is presented as a sign of his authority and divinity. Jesus shares his own Body and Blood in the form of the sacrament of the Eucharist. It is called the “Bread of Life Discourse” in the chapter 6 of John’s Gospel.

Each time we celebrate the Eucharist, we are anticipating the eternal banquet of heaven. Jesus transforms the gift of bread and wine into his own Body and Blood and he also transforms our lives. The Holy Spirit sanctifies the gift we offer in the form of bread and wine.

Jesus becomes the spiritual food for us the believers; he offers himself to us in three ways: through faith in him, through his Word and in the Eucharist. In the Eucharist we are fed by Jesus himself spiritually and physically and we are sent to serve others very specially the poor, destitute, outcasts, sinners and the needy in the world.

We need to share our little things or wealth or talents to meet the needs of the people as the small boy shared his five loaves and two fish and Jesus multiplied and fed the hungry with generous heart.

How are we going to eradicate and meet the problem of hunger in the world today?

The best remedy against hunger may be to be generous with the hungry.

 

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand: The Provision for Human Need

Chapter 6 reveals Jesus to be the Provision for every human and material need. Jesus first demonstrated the truth, then he began to preach and teach it. He showed that he was...

Concerned with every need in life (even a missed meal, Jn 6:1-15)

Concerned with every overpowering need the calming of a storm (Jn 6:16-21).

No matter how small the need or how stormy the problem, Jesus is the provision, the Bread of Life, and the power to meet human’s every need. He can provide a single meal (Mt 6:11- give us this day our daily bread), and he can calm the stormiest problem.

Believing and trusting are essential for God to meet human need. So faith and trust in the power of Jesus is essential in life to see that Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life, the Provision of human need.

1.    The setting (v.1-6)

a.    After this sometime Jesus crossed the lake of Galilee

b.    Feverish, surging crowds followed him

c.     Jesus sought rest and relief

d.    The pilgrims were gathering for the Feast

e.     The two concerns of Jesus

1)    The missing of a meal- Jesus wants to meet every need

2)    The testing and strengthening of his disciples: teaching the kinds of faith

2.    Lesson 1: there is s pessimistic faith (v.7)

3.    Lesson 2: there is an optimistic but questioning faith (v.8-9)

a.    Andrew searched for and brought food

b.    He questioned the supply

4.    Lesson 3: there is a positive and unswerving faith (v.10-13)

a.    Jesus’ faith

1)    He took and gave thanks for what he had

2)    He gave what he had

3)    He used others to help him

b.    God’s answer and provision

1)    He meet the people’s need: he fed and filled them

2)    He gave an overabundance

3)    He allowed no waste

5.    Lesson 4: There is a materialistic profession of Jesus (v.14-15)

a.    The people’s profession: Jesus was the Messiah

b.    The people’s concept: Jesus was an earthly and materialistic king

Thought: While a person is giving what he/she has, he/she must trust the power and provision of God. If a person gives, God does the rest.

Thought: People seek truth and life in such things as philosophy, science, technology, wealth, fame, sensation, art, music, literature and religion. But there is only one pearl that is priceless and worth more than the world itself-the pearl of Jesus Christ Himself (1Cor 2:3; 2:8-10). Acts 4:12; 1Cor 3:11; Phil 3:8; Col 1:19;2:3,10

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