Year B / Ordinary Time / Week 17 / Sunday
Readings: 2 Kings 4.42-44 / Psalm 144.10-11,15-16, 17-18 (R/v cf 16) / Ephesians 4.1-6 / John 6.1-15
“The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs” (cf Psalm 144.16)
This is how today’s Psalm speaks about God. He looks out for us. He satisfies our needs and desires.
This morning we might struggle to recognise this proclamation of God’s goodness after the tragic killing of the 13 year old by another student in one of our schools last Monday. Many are still in shock and pain. Many are suffering and grieving. Parents are loving their children more. Schools are looking out for them even more. “Where were you Lord?” is our honest cry.
People of all faiths greatly need and desire God in our worst suffering. But what actually is our need?
A need is something without which we cannot live. To live, we need food, water, clothing, and shelter. To grow and flourish, we need education and opportunities to develop and work. To socialise, we need company, common law to guide our interactions, and justice to share our common goods. To have a meaningful, happy life, we need the love and care of family and friends to root us. To live hope-filled lives, we need faith and truth, goodness and beauty to lift us up. We need all these for life to matter. If they are missing, we will be deprived and wither away.
More than these, Christians know our souls need God. In life, we want God to be with us. In death, we want to be with God eternally. The martyrs remind us that God answers this need. They are killed for their faith yet they still live, their souls are one with God eternally, His love sheltering them forever. Maybe this is why we fear drowning in disappointment if we do not have God.
Today’s Gospel reading focuses us on Jesus. In him, through Him, with Him, God meets our needs.
When Jesus asks Philip about where to buy food to satisfy the hunger of the large crowd, he is not thinking about a store and purchases. He is really asking a question about who he is. Jesus knows full well that he himself is the real food they need. “I am the Bread of Life” Jesus proclaims to them and us.
Such is the fullness of Life Jesus gives — his very self. He gives more than just enough. He gives a superabundance. This is the immeasurability of God’s love and compassion. The answer Philip should have given Jesus is this: “Give them yourself, Lord.”
In this scene from John's Gospel God’s goodness comes alive in Jesus feeding the poor and lowly with more than they need. He is the Good Shepherd who brings his sheep to recline on the very green grass where he has prepared a banquet for them.
Today, Jesus invites us to join them. Yes, join them to feast but also to join Jesus and give abundantly to everyone.
We can do this Pope Francis reminds us because “Whatever we have can bear fruit if we give it away — that is what Jesus wants to tell us — and it does not matter whether it is great or small. The Lord does great things with our littleness, as he did with the five loaves (and two fish). He does not work spectacular miracles or wave a magic wand; he works with simple things…And love can accomplish great things with little.”*
In a few moments, we will receive the Eucharist. We find God himself in this simple, essential piece of bread, broken and shared. “The Eucharist we receive,” Pope Francis teaches, “allows us to see things as God does. It inspires us to give ourselves to others. It is the antidote to the mindset that says: ‘Sorry, that is not my problem’ or ‘I have no time, I can’t help you, and it’s none of my business.’ Or that looks the other way.”*
This past week many have looked our way, made time for us, and busied themselves to help us. They comforted those grieving Monday’s tragedy. They assisted others to solve study or work problems. They accompanied and cared for you and through life’s daily grind and struggle. Didn’t they make God’s goodness visible and real in meeting our varied needs?
Today’s Psalm ends with hope-filled words: “the Lord is near to all who call upon him.” This is the Good News we yearn for. It assures us that when we need the Lord, even in our worst suffering, He himself is always with us. Yes, it is the Lord we actually need. And if his hand feeds us daily in life, surely he will feed us even more in eternal life, till we will want no more.
Isn’t this the hope we need now and always?
*Pope Francis, Homily on Loaves and Fishes, 23 June 2019
Preached at St Ignatius Church, Singapore
photo: glenallenchurch (internet)
Add a comment