Search
MULTIPLE MULTIPLICATIONS - 17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (7/25/2021)
-
2 Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 145
Ephesians 4:1-6
John 6:1-15
MULTIPLE MULTIPLICATIONS
It has been pointed out that the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish, that is, the Feeding of the 5000, is the only miracle of Jesus (besides his own resurrection) that is recorded in all four gospels. And in addition, there is still another account of food multiplication recorded in Matthew and Mark – this time for 4000. Multiple multiplications! The Lord demonstrates his compassion and willingness to work miracles to feed his hungry followers. As the Responsorial, Psalm 145, says: “The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.”
SECOND KINGS
The first reading presents us with an episode of food multiplication from the life of the prophet Elisha. It reminds us of a miraculous multiplication of oil through the ministry of Elisha recorded earlier in this same chapter. There was also an incident in the ministry of Elijah in which he multiplied food and oil for the widow of Zarephath (cf. 1 Kings 17). And of course, it was through the ministry of Moses that God sent manna to feed the Israelites in the desert (cf. Exodus 16). Multiple multiplications indeed!
The point is clearly that God feeds his people through the ministry of his holy prophets.
GOSPEL
Today’s gospel is from John. As already mentioned, this multiplication account occurs in all four gospels. It is interesting to see that in Matthew, Mark and Luke, the disciples urge Jesus to dismiss the crowd so that they can go and buy food for themselves. In John, however, Jesus himself asks the question of Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” Philip replies that there is no way that they could afford to buy enough food to feed the crowd.
Andrew is the one who identifies the boy with the five barley loaves and two fish, but makes the obvious point: “What good are these for so many?” After the people reclined, Jesus “took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them…” And likewise with the fish. We know the rest of the story!
All the gospels are united in saying that there were 5000 men who ate, and Matthew even specifies “besides women and children.” Similarly, all four gospels indicate that the leftovers filled twelve baskets.
EPHESIANS
Our second reading stresses faithfulness, fruit of the Spirit, and “striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” We note the strong call to unity: “one body and one Spirit…one hope of your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all…”
There is one Father, one Savior and one Spirit. All spiritual unity is based upon union with God and flows from that union. To attempt to have any kind of real unity apart from unity and peace in the Lord is well-nigh impossible.
GIVE WHAT YOU’VE GOT
Whenever we speak of the multiplication of food, I always think of Fr. Rick Thomas, SJ, now gone to the Lord. It is documented that there were “multiple multiplications” of food through Fr. Rick’s ministry among the poor at The Lord’s Ranch in El Paso, Texas, and in the garbage dump in Juarez, Mexico. These accounts are published in a book, Miracles in El Paso by Rene Laurentin.
What also comes to mind is an old gospel song by Kittie Suffield called “Little is Much When God is in It.” It encourages us to use what little we may seem to have in the Lord’s service, like the boy with the loaves and fish who released them to the Lord.
The Lord has multiplied meager provisions before and is perfectly capable of doing it again if the need is there. Let us offer what we have to the Lord with a generous heart and see what he does with it!
