Today’s question is a biblical one – one based on the scriptures of the New Testament. My question is this: what major story is missing from the Gospel according to John? Yes, to answer today’s question you need to know something about all four gospels. But I think most of you can do it – can answer my question about which very familiar story you can find in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, but you won’t find in the writings of John the Evangelist.
Actually, there are probably several answers you could give. But the one I’m looking for, the very greatest story not found in John’s Gospel, is: the scene at the Last Supper where Jesus blesses the bread and wine, saying – “This is my body – This is my blood – Take and eat, take and drink.”
John’s report of that final fellowship meal of Jesus and his followers omits what we consider to be the foundation for our Eucharist, our Thanksgiving, our commemoration of the presence of Christ in the consecrated bread we eat and the consecrated wine we drink at each celebration of our Mass. Instead of reporting this part of the Last Supper, John, in his gospel, has told us about other thanksgivings, other Eucharistic events. We heard about one of them in today’s gospel reading. We’ll hear more of them during the next four Sundays.
Every third year, when we normally read from the Gospel according to Mark, there’s a five-week period during the summer when we hear passages from the Gospel of John. Some might say that, because Mark’s gospel is so short, there’s a need to compensate by inserting readings from John. But this is probably not the real reason. For these five Sundays during the middle of summer, the Church encourages us to reflect on the Bread of Life, itself. John’s writings have such a focus. His gospel tells us about the Bread of Life, about Eucharist, in a way that deepens what we hear in the Last Supper readings of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
We heard the first of these passages in the story we listened to a few minutes ago, the story of the “Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes”. This reading is about one of the major “signs” of Christ’s divinity John includes in his gospel. It’s a story we’ve heard many times before. How Jesus miraculously turned five loaves and two fish into enough to feed a large crowd of at least 5,000 men, and still have leftover fragments of bread sufficient to fill twelve wicker baskets. This story is said to remind us of the superabundance given to us by God, himself, whether it’s bread distributed in a deserted place or wine from the six water-jars at the wedding feast in Cana. But perhaps there’s more for us to reflect upon than a description of the superabundance of God. Perhaps we need to look more closely at the people we see in today’s story.
Have you ever thought about the young boy who brought with him the five barley loaves and two fish? In the first place, he could be considered to be a very bright boy, one prepared for emergencies. He probably recognized this event of listening to Jesus would be a day-long affair. At the opening of today’s reading we heard how the crowds followed Jesus because they had seen “the signs he was performing on the sick.” And so, the crowds followed him up on the mountain to listen to him and to hope Jesus might cure more of them. Perhaps the boy, sensing it was going to be a long day, brought along food for his supper. It’s probably equally true others had done the same. They brought along something to eat. But this boy was different from the others. This boy trusted completely in Jesus, and having heard him speak, was willing to share his meager supply with the others who were present. When Andrew, one of the disciples, went looking for a way to help out, it’s doubtful he forcibly took the boy’s food. I’d rather imagine the young man voluntarily gave it up, hoping Jesus would make use of it in some small way to feed the crowds.
And what did Jesus do? He asked the crowd to recline for a meal. He asked them to follow the custom of openness to the stranger, to break bread with a stranger. And then what did he do? Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks.
Gave thanks. The Greek verb for what he did is “eucharistein.” Eucharist. Thanksgiving. He took the modest gift offered by a young boy, blessed it and multiplied it so that this small offering fed over 5,000 people and still have a remaining surplus.
The boy had not said, “I have nothing to offer; what I have, I must keep for myself”. He had not said. “I have too little to make a difference.” Instead, he proclaimed: “I have a little gift, do with it whatever you want.” And Jesus blessed the gift, and it was more than enough.
So, my real question to you, this day, is: “What small gift do you have to offer to Christ for his use?” Do you have as much trust as that young boy – to believe Christ can bless your offering and make it more than sufficient for the use of others in need? Or do you believe that what you have, must be hidden away for your own use? Do you believe your gift would be too small to make a difference in the world?
And remember: your gifts are not found only in the money in your pocket or bank accounts.
● Your gifts include your ability to teach young and old about Christ, both by what you say and how you act.
● Your gifts include your time to minister to the cares of others: in your family, among your friends, with people you meet at work or in school.
● Your gifts include your efforts to assist others in soup kitchens, nursing homes, hospices and places where migrant workers or displaced teens gather.
● Your gifts include your talents to work for social justice and the cause of peace.
In the words of Saint Paul to the Ephesians, we are encouraged to use these gifts, “to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace [as being]: one body … one Spirit, … one hope, … one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and though all and in all.”
Yes, our gifts may appear to be small and insignificant when we look at them and hold them tightly to ourselves. But these gifts, when blessed by Christ, can feed the hungry and clothe the naked. These gifts can be given and received as a Thanksgiving – as Eucharist – as the Body and Blood of Christ.
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 26, 2009
2 Kg 4:42-44; Eph 4:1-6; Jn 6:1-15