17^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel – John 6:1-15

Be Prepared

Mass at Gethsemane

I have only been to New York City once in my life.  You would think, given what foodies Ginger and I are, that we would relish visiting any of its top-chef restaurants.  But my only dining experience there did not go well; in fact, it was downright embarrassing!

At that point in my life, I had no real experience of high-end dining.  So when I entered the restaurant, I did not notice the sign stating the proper dress code.  Men must have jackets!  I did not!  I was pulled aside and informed of the error of my ways. Apparently they keep a supply of ‘jackets’ just for such a situation.  What I was given was a jacket 2 sizes too big and a color that rivaled a rainbow!  Needless to say I did not enjoy the meal; I don’t even remember what we ate.  All I remember is feeling the eyes of everyone there drilling into my back.  It was embarrassing!  I felt like the proverbial country boy visiting the big city for the first time.  And all because I was not prepared!

We hear in today’s Gospel the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.  The crowd has been following and listening to Jesus all day, in the heat and the dust.  And it’s only in the evening that the disciples tell Jesus – we are far away from any town and the crowd is hungry –5000 people (men), not even including women and children, what should we do?  All we have is 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.  And Jesus, in His infinite compassion, blesses and miraculously feeds the entire crowd.

It is a miracle story that is quite familiar to us all.  But today there are a few twists to the story.  This is one of only 3 stories that all 4 Gospels share in common; the others are the curing of the blind man and Jesus’ Resurrection.  But John adds a few details that are not in the other Gospels.

First, the loaves that are shared are barley loaves, not wheat!  Barley was easy to grow and  could be used in multiple ways: stews, soup,  bread, making beverages like beer, and as fodder for animals.  It was a staple food but considered less than wheat. For that reason, it was the grain of the poor – the food of the common people.

Second, Jesus is the one who distributed the bread and fish to the people, not the disciples.  Just picture that!  Jesus walking among the people and each of them having that personal experience of Jesus handing them their meal.

Third, a crowd of 5,000 people and yet only one out of that huge throng thinks to bring some food with him.  One little boy brings 5 barley loaves and 2 fish.  I get this image of him as the original boy scout.  He came prepared while everyone else just blanked out.  While the people came relatively prepared to hear Jesus speak, they were completely unprepared for a long day without food or for the miracle that was about to take place. 

There is a clear and obvious connection with the Eucharist here; in fact, this Gospel story is often used to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Feast of Jesus’ Body and Blood!

So what does that say to us?

First – the Eucharist is food for the soul, all of our souls, not just the mighty and powerful, not just those who can afford wheat instead of barley, but rich and poor alike, healthy and sick, saints and sinners, all of us!

Second – we need to remind ourselves of this great gift.  Jesus is giving us His Body and Blood in the Eucharist.  It isn’t just a symbol or a memory; it is His real presence!  For over a year, we have all been without this wonderful gift, this personal and spiritual experience of the divine!  Like the 5000, we come to Mass to hear the Word of God and then the miracle of transubstantiation takes place and we receive, not a simple piece of bread or fish but the gift of spiritual food – Jesus’ Body and Blood!   

Third – Like that little boy, are we ready???  Are we prepared to receive the Body and Blood?  Consider the many months we endured without the opportunity to receive Holy Communion!  Has that made us more hungry for the Lord?  Has it made us appreciate all the more such an awesome gift the Lord has given us?  Do we now approach the altar at Communion with joy and reverence?  With a feeling of great anticipation and excitement.  Have we come, like that little boy, prepared to feast at the table of the Lord.

Those 5000 people came to the mountain to hear the Word of God.  They went away with food for the journey!  Like them, we all come together as a Christian community to hear the Word of God and to receive the Eucharist, food for our spiritual journey. 

Are we ready??  Are we prepared?