Today's Gospel Reading - Sunday, July 29, 2012 with Reflection

1^ST READING - 2 Kings 4:42-44

P S A L M - Psalm 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18

R: The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

10 Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 15 The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season; 16 you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. (R) 17 The Lord is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. (R)

2^ND READING - Ephesians 4:1-6

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

A great prophet has risen in our midst. God has visited his people.

John 6:1-15

1 Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. 2 A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish feast of Passover was near. 5 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?” 6He said this to test him, because he himself  knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” 10 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. 11Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. 12 When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” 13 So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. 14 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.” 15Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

SABBATH

THE MIRACLE OF THE BAON People wanted to follow Jesus even if they had to cross deserts and mountains, even if they would go hungry. But Jesus proves to be more realistic than them. They would go hungry — definitely. Thus, the miracle. But behind the miracle is a boy who had five barley loaves and two fish. He brought provisions for himself. It seems odd that a mere child knew what to do while many other people, older than him, forgot about their needs for such long journeys and stints with Jesus. We see another simple miracle here: a boy who was ready to let go of his own bread and fish so that others may not go hungry. Surely, he must have been listening to Jesus and lived His teaching. The miracle needed to start somewhere, somehow, from somebody who had bread and fish. I don’t know how the Apostles convinced the child to give all that he had at the moment. But I’m sure he happily did it with the disposition of a child. Jesus has always been fascinated by children. They’re pure and simple, kindhearted, selfless, obedient, faithful, trusting. He believed that he could part from his baon(packed meal) knowing that Jesus will provide for him. It took a young, simple and selfless individual like him for a great miracle to happen. His selflessness and willingness to share is a miracle in itself. Not all people would do the same. And it happened. About five thousand got their fill of bread and fish. It must have been one great picnic. And when they gathered the leftover, 12 wicker baskets of fragments were collected. Jesus gave them more than they needed. His love is simply overflowing — just like what happened in the days of Elisha when a hundred people were fed and some leftovers were collected. God’s generosity remains the same yesterday, today and forever. Today, we remember the great miracle performed by Jesus and overflowing generosity and sensitivity to our needs. We also remember the boy who shared his own bread and fish. We don’t know his name, but we hope to find him in our midst — today. Fr. Erick Y. Santos, SFO REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you willing to share whatever you have for the sake of the greater good? Lord, help me to discover the joy of sharing and giving. St. Martha, pray for us. Do you want to receive this in your email?  To get Bo Sanchez to send it to you personally, log-on to http://kerygmafamily.com. Lots of surprises await.