Gospel: John 6:1-15
Jesus went across
the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him because they saw the signs he
was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat
down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus
raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to
Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test
him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two
hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have
a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to
him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what
good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there
was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five
thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed
them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When
they had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left
over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled
twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been
more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This
is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew
that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew
again to the mountain alone.
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Reflection:
There’s a story of a
married couple who always find it hard to sustain their family's basic financial needs. A relative advised them to always be present in the Holy Mass
celebration in their village’s chapel. The married couple asked their relative,
why is there a need for us to always be present during Holy Mass? Their
relative told them that they need to be present because this is where they
meet, interact and be one with the Bread of Life which is Jesus Himself.
The big crowd in the
gospel was running after Jesus, primarily because of His miracles, healings and life
changing sermons. The crowd was more than five thousand and Jesus was
naturally concerned for their welfare.
He therefore wanted to feed them but there was no enough bread and fish. So
what Jesus did was he asked for whatever bread and fish that they have.
Upon getting hold of the bread and fish, He looked-up in
thanksgiving to God. Thereafter
Jesus gave the bread and fish to the crowd and He was able
to fed them all. They also had plenty to spare, twelve wicker baskets and some
fragments. It was not only the crowd’s physical hunger that was satisfied by
Jesus, He also satisfied their spiritual thirst.
When you attend Holy Mass, you are also feed by Jesus with the same bread which He gave
the crowd. It happens when you partake of His Body and Blood during Holy
Communion. During Holy Communion you are also nourished
physically and spiritually by the Bread of Life, Jesus Himself!
This is what occurs
when you attend Holy Mass. You’re always being nourished by Jesus
Himself, the same Jesus that fed the crowd who were following Him in the gospel.
when you are
already standing in line for Holy Communion. Pray with your mind and heart and
humbly ask Jesus to satisfy your spiritual hunger. Ask Jesus to increase your
faith, pray also for contentment and peace in your life. He surely will give-in to your prayer.
Will you go to Holy
Mass this Sunday so that you could partake of the Bread of Life? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
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