First Reading Commentary
In the design of the Lectionary, the First
Reading and the Gospel are purposely intended to be similar. For this Sunday, the similarities are obvious
as both Readings involve miraculous feedings.
In this, the First Reading, “a man came
from Baal-shalishah,” a city north of Jerusalem; and this man cannot possibly
comprehend how “a hundred people” could be fed with such a small amount of
food. “Elisha, the man of God,” speaks
the words of God and says, “They shall eat and there shall be some left
over.” And when they had eaten, there
was some left over.
When we read Scripture, very often the
passage we are reading reminds us of another passage. In this Reading, not only does today’s Gospel
come to mind but also the words of the angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary
at the Annunciation, “For nothing will be impossible for God” (Luke 1:37).
Elisha prefigures Christ, who has no doubts
that the crowd of people will be fed.
We, a people of God, are actually well-represented by both men in this Reading. Each of us probably has our fair share of
doubts that Divine Providence will intervene in certain situations, especially
in circumstances that look hopeless; but then again we are a people of prayer
because we know that indeed with God all things are possible.
Second Reading Commentary
Paul’s plea can be summed up by saying that
we should act in accordance with what we believe and live by Christian
virtues.
The word “prisoner” has negative
connotations but being “a prisoner for the Lord” is something we should never
wish to be freed from; although being “a prisoner for the Lord” is true
freedom.
We’re all in this together because we are
one, the Body of Christ, giving praise to “one Lord,” Who is “God and Father of
all.” Since we have this in common, it
demands “humility, gentleness, and patience” with each other, “bearing with one
another through love.”
Gospel Commentary
Since “the Jewish feast of Passover was
near,” it’s reasonable to assume that the “large crowd” was even larger than
what Jesus and the apostles were accustomed to.
Jesus asks, “Where can we buy enough food
for them to eat?” Both Philip and Andrew
contribute answers which do not solve the dilemma as neither can foresee this
amount of people being fed.
Although it can be extremely difficult at
times, it is our faith that should lead us more on our journey than our
physical sight. These two apostles,
Philip and Andrew, were relying on their physical sight and not their faith,
even with Jesus in their midst, knowing what He was capable of doing. From this we can see how prayer is so
necessary in our lives to continually strengthen our faith.
In Luke 6:21 are the words, “Blessed are
you who are now hungry for you will be satisfied.” In today’s Gospel these words would seem to
be fulfilled in a physical sense; but when Jesus became Man to dwell among us,
He not only mingled the Divine with humankind but also mingled heaven with
earth. Even though a physical miracle
has taken place, the words in Saint Luke’s Gospel seem to suggest some kind of
fulfillment in the future. Perhaps
today’s Gospel is not only another wonderful miracle from Jesus, but also a
glimpse into the joys of heaven and eternal life whereby we will be abundantly
satisfied.
“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.”’ These words
may be a reference to what is written in Deuteronomy 18:15, “A prophet like me
will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kinsmen.”
Let us not conclude without mentioning the
boy who possessed the little food that was available. He, surely as hungry as the rest, had faith
in Jesus to share everything he had. “Whoever
humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4).
In our life of faith,
if we offer to Jesus the little we have, He will indeed multiply it.
