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Gospel: John 6: 1-15
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 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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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In the summer of 2018, a group of twelve curious boys – ages 11 to 16 – wandered into a gigantic cave in Thailand after soccer practice. While they were exploring, heavy rainfall started flooding the cave, blocking their exit.
Unable to swim, the boys were forced to retreat deeper and deeper into the cave, until they found themselves stuck in a dark maze, two and a half miles inside the belly of the earth.
A week passed by.
Chances of their survival were slipping by the hour. Finally, a burst of light came out of the watery tomb beneath their feet as two British divers emerged. Somehow, these divers found them!
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Still, the boys’ survival wasn’t guaranteed.
Although these experts were able to navigate the dark, craggy tunnels, pulling the boys out of the cave seemed impossible.
Their story went viral. Volunteers from around the world arrived on site, saying, “I’m a diver… I’m a scientist… I’m a doctor… I’m an engineer…. I cannot save those boys alone. But I can be part of the solution.”
After three treacherous weeks, all twelve boys were rescued, concluding a story of remarkable endurance and teamwork.
That moment reminded the world that when we work together, nearly anything is possible.
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Something similar is happening in today’s Gospel.
For the last nine miles, thousands of people have been following Jesus. They’ve listened to his teachings, witnessed his miracles, and are mesmerized by his power.
But now they’re hungry … and far from home.
So, the Lord asks his disciples, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” But all they come up with is the contents of a boy’s lunchbox – five loaves and two fish. That’s enough for the disciples, perhaps, but not the rest of the crowd.
Still, the Lord insists, “have the people recline.”
Somehow, everyone is fed. In fact, there was so much left over that twelve wicker baskets were filled – far more than the five loaves and two fish they began with.
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How did Jesus do it? How did he turn a small meal into a buffet large enough to feed thousands?
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The Gospel doesn’t tell us how it happened; only that everyone, “ate and was satisfied.”
While Jesus could’ve miraculously multiplied the fish and bread himself – he did greater miracles than this – some have suggested that he might’ve done it another way.
Perhaps the Lord inspired his neighbors to see themselves as part of the solution.
Wouldn’t that be an even greater miracle – a moral miracle – convincing thousands of people to solve this problem of communal hunger together?
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Jesus knew some had fish and bread stuffed inside their pockets. Think of that little boy. It’s these – the ones with extra – whom the Lord is targeting.
As the Gospel says, he takes the boy’s dinner, gives thanks, and begins sharing it with others. And so, the multiplication of the loaves begins.
Imagine a wave of empathy moving throughout the crowd as people realize that they, too, can share whatever they have, becoming part of the solution. Before sunset, stomachs are filled and hearts are transformed.
This would be the greatest miracle of all:
Teamwork.
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Similar dynamics unfolded in Thailand just a few years ago.
Think of all the divers, doctors, and engineers, who risked their lives in order to save those desperate boys. Extracting them from the maze of dark, flooded tunnels seemed highly unlikely.
But teamwork made the impossible possible. Each person gave what they had – five loaves and two fish. Suddenly, a miracle unfolded before the world’s eyes.
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The same lesson could be applied to a variety of problems across the globe, including: hunger, poverty, war, and the often elusive search for peace. As the old saying goes, “Teamwork makes the dream work.”
It’s also true in our parish.
Consider how far we’ve already come. Together, we can continue transforming hearts and minds, until everyone we know loves and serves the Lord.
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So, what are my “five loaves and two fish”?
How do I see myself as part of the solution to the challenges we face – from spreading the Gospel to striving for peace?
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Teamwork makes the dream work.
It helped feed a hungry crowd of thousands; it saved the lives of twelve boys in Thailand; and it will continue making the impossible possible in our world today.
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Image credits: (1) Inc. Magazine (2) disappointment media (3) NPR