SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
25 JULY 2021
In
last Sunday’s Gospel, Saint Mark recorded that Jesus took the twelve to a
deserted place so they could rest from their labors and continue to be taught
by him. However, they encountered a vast
crowd waiting for them. Instead of
telling them that they needed a well-deserved rest, the Good Shepherd was moved
to pity, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He gave of himself to them and taught them,
as he would give his life entirely for the salvation of all on the cross.
Today,
Saint John picks up the story. Not only
does Jesus teach them with his words. He
feeds the hungry crowd with a miracle recorded in all four Gospels. We need to remember that the Synoptic Gospel
authors (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) record the institution of the Eucharist in
their account of the Last Supper. Saint
John does not include the institution narrative in his account of the Last
Supper. He records Jesus humbling
himself to wash the feet of his Apostles.
The Eucharistic implications of the feeding of the five thousands are in
this account.
Jesus
crosses the Sea of Galilee, as Moses had led his people through the Red
Sea. Jesus goes up the mountain, as
Moses had gone up Mount Sinai. The Feast
of Passover is near. Jesus is the new
Passover, the Lamb of God whose blood will free us from the slavery of sin and
death. Just as only God could feed the
Israelites in the desert with manna, no mere human could feed this vast crowd. Jesus asks Philip if he knows where they can
buy food, because Philip is from that area.
He responds that there is not enough money to buy such a huge crowd even
a little food for them to eat. Andrew
points to a boy carrying five barley loaves and two fish – not enough to feed
such a large crowd. Jesus instructs them
to have the people recline on the grass, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden. That grass is in contrast to the thorns and
thistles that Adam and Eve encountered when they were expelled from the
Garden. We are reminded of the words of
Psalm 23 that assure us that the Good Shepherd will lead us to green pastures.
Then Jesus
does what the Synoptic Gospel authors say that he does at the Last Supper. He takes bread, gives thanks to his Father,
breaks, and gives it to them as they are reclining, the position of free people
at a banquet. He also gives as much of
the fish as they want. The Greek word
for fish (ichtys) is an acronym for “Jesus Christ Savior, Son of God.” John leaves no doubt that Jesus Christ is the
new manna come down from heaven to nourish his disciples until the end of
time. That is why his disciples collect
twelve wicker baskets with fragments to speak of the fragmented Christian
communities gathered together at the end of time.
The crowds
do not understand the implications of what they have just experienced. They want to make Jesus their king, so that
he can continue to provide free meals for them.
So, Jesus withdraws again to the mountain alone. His mission is not to draw attention to
himself. He will wait until life returns
to normal to explain this sign to the crowds.
That is
what he will do for us during the next three Sundays. The Bread of Life discourse will invite us to
reflect more deeply on the Eucharist as the source and summit of our lives of
faith. This three week reflection is
even more important this year, since we were unable to gather in person to
celebrate the Eucharist during the pandemic.
It is wonderful to sense the enthusiasm of so many people as we gather
in person now to be fed by the Lord’s presence in the Eucharist. These next three weeks will deepen our
understanding of the Eucharist as we continue to walk in faith together through
the thorns and thistles of our world.
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