Jesus, like his Father, is attentive to our needs.  He does not fail to fill up those of us who hunger for what we lack.

Those who were dying of hunger in the desert did not have to return to Egypt to fill up themselves.  For the one who had brought them out of slavery with a mighty hand rained down on them manna and meat.

Nor do the poor disciples have to abide by the saying that one needs money to eat.  For their Teacher knows how to fill up the thousands that are hungry.

And, indeed, there is need for more than just money to fill up the poor of all kinds.  And to solve the problem of hunger in the world.

In fact, the generous poverty of the boy with food poor folks eat is worth more than two hundred denarii.  For as he shares the little that he has, he points to the way that leads to communion, solidarity.  That is to say, to our getting to treat one another as brothers and sisters of just one Father.

This Father of all wants none of his sons or daughters to go hungry or be left behind.  He also sends all the food they can all eat.  So, there is no lack of food; there is just lack of generous folks to share it.  To make known that God can do things that we humans cannot.

And Jesus, as he takes the loaves and fish, gives thanks to the Father.  He, then, gives them out, and gets to feed and fill up more than five thousand.

Hence, to belong to Jesus means to lay out what we have, though little, for the poor to share.  To let him, our  Paschal Lamb, fill up all of us, and to do as he.  That is to say, to feed also those who are hungry and not be but caricatures of Christians (SV.EN XII:222).

Lord Jesus, fill up our hunger and our deepest longings.  And grant that, as we remember your sign of multiplying the loaves and fish, we learn to share our goods with those who are poor. 

28 July 2024
17th Sunday in O.T. (B)
2 Kgs 4, 42-44; Eph 4, 1-6; Jn 6, 1-15