17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear People,

The next five weeks, we will read the six chapter of John which deal with the famous discourse of the bread of live. This is the chapter which clearly emphasize the importance of the Eucharist, and the doctrine of the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Today we have the very memorable passage of John where Jesus fed the five thousand people from five barley loaves and two fish.  This miracle is the foreshadowing of the Eucharist. As Jesus said as the heavenly Father gave manna in the desert I will give you living bread. As Jesus took care of the physical need of the people in the desert how much more Jesus will take care of our spiritual needs. For this reason Jesus speaks about the living bread, which is found in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John. There is the main teaching of Jesus in regard the Eucharist.  When Jesus took the barley loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed them. The Eucharistic reference here is obvious. These are the same words which are used during the consecration. The one verb that here is not contained is broke it.  This happened at the last super to indicate that Jesus was going to be broken and sacrificed for us. Jesus took the loaves of bread,

This connects with Jesus taking flesh and with Jesus taking the loaf of bread at the last supper. Jesus took flesh to be broken for us. Bread is useless unless it is broken so that we can eat it. The next word is gave thanks, With Jesus is thankful that his mission is accomplished. The word Eucharist is a Greek word which means to give thanks. When we come to church we come to give thanks. The next word is distributed. Jesus distributed the 5 loaves of bread so that everyone had enough to eat. Jesus distributes, that is he give himself to us so that we have enough to eat, what it means we have enough so that it can bring us salvation, and spiritual health. Jesus is willing to give himself up for us.

Once again, the crowds were overwhelmed by Jesus, following him to the other side of the lake to witness his exceptional power. They were not disappointed. They now recognize him as more than a wonder-worker. He is the long-awaited prophet like Moses, the one who will usher the messianic age. Jesus uses this opportunity to speak about Living Bread. He compares this to the manna that their forefather ate in the desert.  Jesus says he who eats this bread will live.  Jesus of course was speaking about the soul will live, this bread (The Eucharist) brings life to the soul.

In the first reading, we read of how Elisha trusted that the twenty barley loaves that the man from Bal-shalishah brought were more than sufficient to give to the people to eat, even though the number of people was much greater that twenty barley loaves could feed. Yet Elisha was a man of God and he believed that God will provide and that was sufficient for all those people. The result was that there was bread left over. This indicated that when we rely on the grace of God, God gives us in abundance.  

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Vincent Clemente

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