17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

My dear parishioners,

God is Good!!!  All the time!!!  And all the time!!!  God is Good!!!

At his first appearance in the Scriptures Elisha is preparing a field for planting (1 Kgs 19:19). He is thus introduced as one who nourishes the people. As a prophet, Elisha continues to nourish others, but now he does so through the power of God. It is worth noting that Elisha now carries the title “man of God” because he has made such progress in God’s service.

The miracle story of the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle contained in all four Gospels. The version for today’s liturgy comes from John and differs from the account presented in the Synoptic Gospels. Jesus is totally in control of the situation. The Jewish feast of the Passover is near. Jesus is the assertive one regarding food for the crowd. Jesus himself distributes the loaves and fishes to the people.

Food to feed 5,000. Jesus has attracted a large crowd through the signs and healings he has been performing. A large amount of food is going to be needed to feed all these people. Jesus himself knows how he is going to handle this but he puts Philip on the spot just to test him. He asks Philip where they could buy food for the crowd. There is no way that could be done.

Five barley loaves and two fish. Andrew indicates that there is a boy there with five barley loaves and two fish which only serves to highlight how desperate the situation really is. It also reminds the reader of a similar situation with the prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 4:42–44. Jesus seems unbothered by the impossible situation. He instructs the disciples to have the 5,000-plus people recline on the grass as if he had a large banquet ready to be served instead of five barley loaves and two fish. It appears to be an impossible situation.

All had their fill. Jesus took the loaves and fish, gave thanks and fed 5,000 people with as much as they wanted. In addition to that, there were 12 wicker baskets of fragments left over. He fed them all in abundance. No attempt is made to disclose how he did this. We know what led up to the multiplication of loaves and fishes as well as what happened afterward. By design, no attention is given to the miracle itself.

Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Aloysius