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.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a married couple
who always find it hard to sustain their family's basic needs. A relative
advised them to always be present at 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 become 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 numbered more than five thousand, and Jesus was naturally
concerned for their welfare. Therefore, He wanted to feed them, but there was
not enough bread and fish. So what Jesus did was ask for whatever bread and
fish they had.
Upon receiving the bread and fish, He
looked up in thanksgiving to God. Thereafter, Jesus distributed the bread and
fish to the crowd, and He was able to feed them all! They even had plenty to
spare: twelve wicker baskets full of fragments. Jesus not only satisfied the
crowd's physical hunger but also quenched their spiritual thirst.
When we attend Holy Mass, we are also fed
by Jesus with the same bread which He gave the crowd. It happens the moment we
partake of His Body and Blood during Holy Communion. During Holy Communion, we
are also nourished physically and spiritually by the Bread of Life which is
Jesus Himself!
This is what occurs when we attend Holy Mass.
We are always being nourished by Jesus Himself! The same Jesus that fed the
crowd who were following Him in the gospel. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
