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First Reading 2 Kings 4:42-44
Elisha the prophet feeds 100 people with 20 barley loaves.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 145:10-11,15-16,17-18
The Lord feeds his people and answers their needs.
Second Reading Ephesians 4:1-6
The Ephesians are encouraged to live the unity of their Baptism.
Gospel Reading
John 6:1-15
Jesus feeds the crowd of more than five thousand people with five barley loaves and two fish.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Through most of Lectionary Cycle B, our Sunday Gospel readings are taken from the Gospel of Mark. Over the past two Sundays, we heard how Jesus sent his disciples to share in his mission. If we were to continue reading Mark's Gospel, we would next hear his report of how Jesus feeds the crowds in the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Our Lectionary, however, leaves Mark’s Gospel for the next several weeks and instead presents this event from the Gospel of John. In John’s Gospel, Jesus’ multiplication of the loaves and the fishes is presented as a sign of his authority and divinity. Jesus interprets the meaning and significance of this miracle as a sharing of his Body and Blood. This chapter is sometimes called the “Bread of Life Discourse.”
In many important ways, John’s Gospel uses the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes to teach about the Eucharist. Like the Last Supper, this miracle is said to have occurred near the time of the Jewish feast of Passover. (In John’s Gospel three Passovers are identified.) Jesus’ language is similar to the language he used at the Last Supper as reported in the Synoptic Gospels. John’s description of this event also anticipates the Messianic banquet of heaven, as the crowd reclines and all hungers are satisfied with abundance. This connection is further amplified by the response of the crowd, who wants to make Jesus a king. John is teaching us that each time we celebrate the Eucharist, we are anticipating the eternal banquet of heaven.
Recall that John’s Gospel tells the story of the Last Supper differently than the Synoptic Gospels. Instead of describing the meal and Jesus’ actions with the bread and cup, John describes how Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. We hear this Gospel when we remember the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. This recollection of Jesus’ action at the Last Supper complements the institution narrative of the Synoptic Gospels and Paul’s Letters that we hear repeated at each Mass.
In both stories about the Eucharist—the washing of the disciples’ feet and the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes—the Gospel of John teaches us that the Eucharist is an action. Our word Eucharist is taken from the Greek language and describes an action: “to give thanks.” In the Eucharist we are fed by Jesus himself, and we are sent to serve others.
John’s Gospel notes the detail that the bread blessed and shared with the crowd are barley loaves. This is the food of the poor. It reminds us that God feeds and nourishes us, fulfilling our physical needs as well as our spiritual ones. In the Eucharist, we are sent to serve the poorest among us.
The story of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes recalls a particular aspect of the Mass. In this miracle, Jesus transforms a young boy’s offering of five barley loaves and two fish. In the offertory at Mass, we present the fruits of our labors, represented by bread and wine. These gifts, given to us first by God as grain and fruit, are returned to God in our offering of thanksgiving. God in turn transforms our gifts, making this bread and wine the very Body and Blood of Jesus. We also offer ourselves in this exchange, and we, too, are transformed by the Eucharist.
March 30 - Saturday Week Three : Real Prayer
March 29 - Friday Week Three : Love one another
March 28 - Thursdat week Three : Which side are you in?
March 27 - Wednesday Week Three : Glorify the LORD
March 26 - Tuesday Week Three : Forgiveness
March 25 - Monday week Three : Fear Not
March 24 - Third Sunday of Lent: Repentance
March 23 - Saturday Week Two : Mercyfull Father
March 22- Friday Week Two : Wicked Servents
March 21 - Thursday Week Two - Sin of Omission
March 20 - Wednesday Week Two : Servent Leadership
March 19 - Tuesday Week Two : St. Joseph Pray For Us
March 18 - Monday Week two : Reap what you sow
March 17 - Second Sunday of Lent: Transfiguration
March 16 - Satirday Week One : Love your enemies
March 15 - Friday Week One : Unresolved Anger is Sin
March 14 - Thursday Week one : Our Father in Heaven
March 13 - Wednesday Week One : Conversion
March 12 - Tuesday First week of Lent
March 6 - Monday First week of Lent :You Did It To Me
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