There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?

 

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

 

- John 6:1-15 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus said to the religious leaders:  "I can of Myself do nothing.  As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.  If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.  There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.  You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.  He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.  But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish -- the very works that I do -- bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me.  You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  I do not receive honor from men.  But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?  Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you -- Moses, in whom you trust.  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

 

  After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  My study Bible highlights for us that the entire chapter 6 of John's Gospel parallels the story of Passover and Exodus of Israel from Egypt in several important ways.  Regarding these verses here, we note that in the Exodus account (Exodus 11 - 17), God first performed God's signs against Pharaoh, then gave instructions on how to be saved at the time of Passover (Exodus 11:1-12:14).  Here, the multitudes follow Christ because of His signs, and this also takes place at Passover.  This is the second of three Passover feasts recorded in John's Gospel.  

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"  My study Bible comments that Christ tests Philip to increase his faith, for Philip needed help in understanding Him (John 14:8-10).  Two hundred denarii corresponds to more than six months wages for a laborer.  Andrew, my study Bible says, has greater faith than Philip:  knowing that prophet Elisha had multiplied bread for 100 men (2 Kings 4:42-44), he offers the food brought by a certain lad.  Nonetheless, Andrew is still weak in faith, however, questioning what only five loaves could do for the large number of people there.  

Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  This feeding of the multitude is the fourth of Christ's seven signs reported by John.   Significantly, it is recorded in all four Gospels.  My study Bible notes the description of Christ as He took the loaves, gave thanks (Greek ευχαριστω/eucharisto), and distributed them prefigures the celebration of the Eucharist.  In another parallel to the Exodus, the Jews at that time were said to eat unleavened bread because they were hastily driven out of Egypt and had brought no provisions for themselves (Exodus 12:39).  Here, Jesus feeds the multitudes with earthly bread because they had brought no provisions, having rushed out to see Him.

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.  My study Bible says that although Jesus had performed greater signs than this, these crowds so desired an earthly Messiah that they declared Jesus to be the expected Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) only when they were filled with earthly things (see also verse 26).  Because of this misunderstanding, Jesus departed from them.

Today's reading invites us to think about many things.  It opens up for us questions about how Christ feeds us.  We look at the reading, and we understand that people have followed Him into the wilderness.  St. Mark tells us  that Jesus had compassion on them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd (Mark 6:34).  That implies the people looked to Christ for leadership, guidance, instruction, and indeed, He taught them before this miraculous feeding.  But John places great emphasis on this food, and my study Bible points out the language that ties it with the Eucharist, the gift of Christ Himself, which implies all that He offers to humankind.  Personally, in today's reading of this Scripture, it is striking to consider the things with which we feed ourselves in our daily lives.  How much of our life do we spend "consuming" things that are edifying to us, or that remind us and help to uphold for us the teachings of Jesus, His love and care for us?  Are there things we do or share that remind us of His compassion?  Do we share that compassion with others in an expression of our understanding of His love for us?  Do we create community on that basis, and in His name, as we remember and know that we are loved and cared for, and guided in a good way?  So much of popular entertainment seems to do the opposite.  It is divisive.  It feeds us not with things that are truly nurturing, and not with things that nurture what is good for us.  We are fed with violence, with a great deal of arrogance and pride, with things that teach young woman they're only valued for their appearance, or worse, that lead some very young teenagers to want to change their female bodies out of fear of what it means to be a woman.  (See journalist Abigail Shrier's book on this current phenomenon and its dramatic increase).   Popular literature and entertainment seem to celebrate victory over others more than the value of finding meaning even in suffering, which is what the Cross of Christ shows us is always present to us, in all circumstances, with God's help.  It is important that we use our own capacity for choice, for real decisions to pursue that which is truly good for us and for our families and communities.  The Gospels do not present to us a picture of a perfect world.  In fact, it is quite the opposite, they present to us a world beset by bad influence, temptations of all kinds, and an understanding that we are engaged in a struggle for our salvation.    In John's Gospel, Jesus will tell His disciples, just prior to His Crucifixion, "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me" (John 14:30).  It is important that we understand the clear picture we're given that we have a great need for discernment, for things that build us up, and to avoid that which tears us down.  In the Gospels, it is the demons who are destructive and merciless, causing pain and oppression, and Christ who liberates us.  Let us pay great attention, therefore, to what it is that we choose to feed ourselves with in this life, and reject whatever puts out a message that reflects the nature of that pain and evil and its merciless nature.  In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus teaches, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).  Well, in our great, huge, universal world of entertainment and technology, there is an ever-increasing array and expansion of influence that asks of us our discernment about what's going to be truly good for us to take in and to dwell on and grow on, and the same is true for our children and communities.  That wide gate and broad way seems only to grow with our capacity for new technologies and platforms.  To be sure, there is also our fortunate way of the Savior and the influence of God's grace that inspires people to use these new platforms and technologies to feed people with what is good, saving, gracious, true, and merciful.  But it is, as it always has been, up to us to take refuge in the good things we're given, to grow in that grace and truth, and to share it with others.  For those seeking to turn away from destructive habits or influences -- no matter what they are -- a reliance on God is essential to find the good and narrow way through their difficulties and temptations.  Let us remember, we've been given all we're taught in order to show us the way, for He is the lamp unto our feet, the light we need so we don't walk in darkness.  Let us persist and endure to the end in this good fight.  In this struggle, let us not be discouraged. St. Andrew asks, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"  All we need is a little bit, and it is God who does the rest and magnifies the result.