From the Fullness Flows Fullness

 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 25 July 2021

Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18; Ephesians 4:1-6;  John 6:1-15

Picture courtesy: Jean-Marc Arakelian

To listen to my audio reflections please click here 

1. Jesus, a prophet of abundance

When you pronounce the word "abundance" already you feel something positive and your mind begins to relax. Jesus was a man of abundance and from him flowed everything in abundance. The liturgical readings for this Sunday give us how both Elisha, the prophet and Jesus, the Son of God, performed major miracles of their lives. Such public performances changed the outlook of the persons completely. The last sentence in today's Gospel reading says it all: “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world” (John 6:14) Jesus was a prophet of different kind and nature. Fullness flowed from him so easily that people recognized him, who he really is. Another sentence at the beginning of the narration of today's miracle sums up very clearly what kind of impression Jesus made in the public: "When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him" (John 6:5). 

As a miracle worker, Jesus had become a public figure, a known figure whose popularity had outgrown. Therefore people followed him relentlessly. People were seeking something concrete, substantial, clear, useful and trustworthy. And Jesus provided everything people needed. People saw Jesus with eyes open and from close quarters. Jesus had won them all. Looking at the faith and trust in him Jesus felt pity for his followers. He even said they are "like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). Jesus now goes the extra mile of feeding the people with an unexpected meal. In fact, this was a meal with a difference. His public banquet for people from five barley loaves and two fish almost made him a king. We all know how the story ends. “And indeed it came to pass as there was more food in the baskets in the end than before they started passing them through the crowd” (John 6:13). In fact, Jesus turns out to be an endless multiplier of loaves of bread!

2. Eating with others builds the bond of trust and unity

A number of Gospel passages narrate Jesus going out and having dinner with people or participating in the celebrations of the family or the community. Even Jesus admonishes how to behave at the banquet and where to find one's place (Luke 14:7-11); Jesus eats at the house of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36-50); Jesus invites himself at the house of Matthew the tax collector (Matthew 9:9-13); Jesus spends time with Lazarus, Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42); Jesus speaks about the kind of banquet is being prepared in the Kingdom of heaven (Matthew 22:2; Luke 14:12-24; 9:57-62). Somehow or the other Jesus appears as foodies who sits willingly at the banquet tables with all sorts of people, both friend and foe alike.  

Every meal in a family or community is very important. Food nourishes not only physically but also spiritually. When we eat in peace and serenity there is joy and unity. A broken family and divided community cannot have food in peace and joy. Jesus' big meal to his people shows that all are counted and none is left in spite of having hardly anything to eat ( five loaves and two fish). Jesus' inclusivity brings together the whole crowd of five thousand in counting just the men alone. This miracle of feeding five thousand is a sign that in Jesus bond of love and unity are built over trust and that trust is celebrated by sharing of a meal with each other. 

3. In Jesus, we are made one and whole

Fascinatingly, the miracle of feeding such a multitude of people happens because a little boy had those basic elements namely bread and fish. God can make miracles even from those who are considered innocent and small. For God, everyone has a place and each one is important. Even the smallest one has a place in God's work of multiplying and sharing.  He even said the kingdom of God is attained only by becoming like little children (Matthew 18:3). Each one of us is called to share even the little one has including that which might be meagre or negligible in front of the multitude. Jesus' concern and compassion for people are so obvious that whatever he has gives them all. There is nothing holding back or any sort of afterthought. For Jesus, giving is hundred percent and total. It is always to give, give and give. 

Too often, perhaps, we live or downgrade ourselves with our inadequacies, our failures, our shortcomings, our stupidities, our worthlessness, our unfulfilled dreams or our bad luck.  These are the brushstrokes that paint an unhappy picture or image of ourselves. But there is hope for a future. And that certainly a future with a bright hope rests not on ourselves but in God and God alone.  In the words of St Ignatius of Loyola, God labours in us and with us through us and for us (Spiritual Exercises, 236). In fact, God dwells and is at work in all creatures, in all plant and animal life, and in us. From our part we might have to do is to surrender ourselves completely to his will. As long as we hold on to the little things we might lose even the little that we have. Like Moses, may we too surrender to God's will and so glorify him.

4. Joy in opening oneself to the other 

By creating an endless supply of bread and fish, Jesus gave a big lesson to the people that love, faith and sharing can make a difference. By sharing oneself with others, more could be added to the treasures in heaven. In a world of culture of wasting and unsharing, the instruction of Jesus to his disciples at the end of the meal is clear: “pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted” (John 6:12). We are living in a world where ethics and values seem to have no relevance or in disguise. The gulf between those who have and those who don't is increasing so rapidly that those who are unable to step into the ladder are pushed down mercilessly. In our own life, we can think about the times and quantity of food and goods we waste in our families and communities. 

Jesus' lesson at the feeding of the multitude is a way of being generous and ready to give without counting the cost. As Christians, we are called to be like Jesus people of abundance and rich in mercy. The more we drain ourselves, the more we will be fulfilled by the Lord. Just like Jesus taught the crowd that each one has to share with one another, he is inviting us to imitate him not in great things but in simple things. Being kind, generous, gentle and joyful is itself a great gift today to share with one another. God continues to incarnate in us today in a particular way to help others - to heal the sick, forgive sins and feed people who are hungry - but as before, with human hands. 

Questions for meditation:

1. Read the Gospel passage slowly and attentively. If a word or a phrase or a sentence strikes you stay with that and ask what that particular phrase or sentence is trying to say to you.

2. What is my contribution in making this world more compassionate and kind in these difficult times?

3. God is above all, through all and in all. What is your experience of God in the past week?  Open your heart and hear what God is calling you to…

4. When was the last time you took some time to reflect on what exactly God has called you to..? Or called you to be..? 

5. Do we recall God’s abundant blessings in our own life? Are we so lavish in our generosity to others? 

Prayer: 

Teach me, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that I do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

24 July 2021