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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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“What good are five loaves and two fish for so many?”

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Phillip and Andrew are suffering from a terrible case of pessimism. They don’t yet understand the depths of Christ’s power to multiply, transform, and save. 

So, when they look upon the crowd of five thousand, they believe there’s simply no way to feed them. What they have is not enough.

Yet, five loaves and two fish are all the Lord needs.

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How often do we feel like the disciples? 

As if what we have to offer the Lord, his Church, or other people is not worth much. We lack the time, the energy, or the resources to make a big splash.

Yet the Lord reminds us that nothing is insignificant when placed into his hands – the widow’s mite, an affirming word, an earnest prayer, a phone call “check-in,” a visit to the sick, a simple sermon – may be all he needs.

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So, what do I have to offer the Lord and his people?

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Who knows, it just may feed the masses.

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Image credits: (1) Ray Noah (2) Etsy (3) David Irvine

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Acts: 5:27-33

When the court officers had brought the Apostles in
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
“We gave you strict orders did we not,
to stop teaching in that name.
Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching
and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the Apostles said in reply,
“We must obey God rather than men.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior
to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
We are witnesses of these things,
as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

When they heard this,
they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.

The Word of the Lord.

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Throughout the year, there’s some professional sport being played. In the spring and summer, there’s baseball. In the fall and winter, there’s football and hockey. Year-round, there’s golf.

Athletes train, diet, and exercise extensively – even in the offseason – for that coveted shot at victory. 

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As is true with athletics, in the spiritual life there’s the element of delayed gratification. Work hard now, receive the reward later.

As Saint Paul says, “Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win… [Athletes] do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.”

Christians work hard now for the sake of the life to come.

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In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter and the others had been flogged and imprisoned as punishment for preaching the Good News.

Suddenly, the earth shook beneath them, their chains were broken, and the door to their cell was thrown open. 

So, they rushed right back into the temple area praising God, knowing it would only lead to further pain and suffering. As it is written, the authorities, “became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.”

Why were they willing to suffer so much? 

Like professional athletes, the Apostles believed in the principle of delayed gratification. As Saint Paul says, “If we suffer with him, then we shall also reign with him.”

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In what ways do I suffer – or expend energy – for Christ?

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Perhaps I’ve tried to rid myself of a particular sin; spoken publicly about my faith; studied the Word of God at home; or gotten involved in a time-consuming ministry. 

Like the Apostles, we do these things for Jesus because we know what the reward will be: life with Him forever, if only we do our part now.

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Image credits: (1) Simply Psychology (2) Humble and Faithful Co. (3) Fredrick Tumusiime, Medium

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Acts: 5: 17-26

The high priest rose up and all his companions,
that is, the party of the Sadducees,
and, filled with jealousy,
laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail.
But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison,
led them out, and said,
“Go and take your place in the temple area,
and tell the people everything about this life.”
When they heard this,
they went to the temple early in the morning and taught.
When the high priest and his companions arrived,
they convened the Sanhedrin,
the full senate of the children of Israel,
and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison,
so they came back and reported,
“We found the jail securely locked
and the guards stationed outside the doors,
but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report,
they were at a loss about them,
as to what this would come to.
Then someone came in and reported to them,
“The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area
and are teaching the people.”
Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them,
but without force,
because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

The Word of the Lord.

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If you want to understand God, then look at nature.

There’s an invisible, persistent force in nature that is determined to thrive. Even in the harshest circumstances, life can be found.

I’ve seen trees growing on the side of a mountain face; flowers blossoming in tiny cracks on a city sidewalk; cacti standing tall in the desert heat.

Nature never gives up.

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The same idea is true with God. There’s a resilience to the Holy Spirit that will not give up until disciples are made of “all nations.”

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In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Sadducees have had the Apostles arrested for a second time. 

They thought this budding religious movement would’ve been squashed after they nailed Jesus to a tree. But reports are circulating that he’s been raised from the dead. God is resilient!

Making matters “worse,” the Apostles have become like the God they worship. Somehow, they’ve broken out of prison and are back in the Temple area preaching in Christ’s name – that, “God so loved the world” – converting thousands!

In spite of their best efforts, the Sadducees cannot stop the Holy Spirit from working. In fact, before this first generation of Christians passes away, they will spread the Gospel message throughout Europe into the far corners of the Middle East and beyond.

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The same Holy Spirit is working today. God is determined to make disciples in our homes, in our parish, and in the broader community through us. We are his instruments.

In what ways do we share our faith with others? 

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Like the Apostles, may God’s resilient Spirit set our hearts on fire for the Gospel to continue spreading it today.

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Image credits: (1) Flickr (2) Saint Peter Preaching in Jerusalem, Charles Francois-Poerson (3) Catholic to the Max