Gospel, John (6: 1-15)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John
Feeding the Five Thousand
6 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5 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?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” 10 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. 11 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. 12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14 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.”
15 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.
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
John (6: 1-15). He begins a catechesis on the Eucharist with the miracle of the multiplication of bread and fish.
From the reading, we find that the people followed Him because they recognized in Him a path to happiness. His simple way of talking touched the hearts of those who listened to him…
That afternoon Jesus reveals his determination to share his life with humanity, but he always wants our collaboration as we read in John, (vs.9) “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?”
Certainly, it was from the boy’s altruism, who kept nothing for himself and allowed the miracle to work! The bread was multiplied, everyone ate their fill and yet more remained. A show of love and generosity freely given…
The success of the miracle is very evident in the words of the people. 14 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.”
Nevertheless, the people were still far from understanding who the Galilean really was.
He was not just a prophet but also the Son of God, whose will, was to remove the yearning to live a life of plenty. (John 6: 2) 2 A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Some, not all will abandon him when he the “Miracle” promises them the bread of eternal life. (John 6, 27). 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you
What should our attitude be before the New Testament of Jesus? If we believe, that He is the Word of Salvation, let us ask the Lord for the grace to share what little we have and to set aside our selfish ways of life exchanging them for Jesus’s open-handed generosity.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, who placed at the disposal of human beings all that you are for their good, help us to constantly improve our generosity in favour of all whom we encounter in our life. We want to follow you today and forever! Amen