My Dear People,
The next five weeks, we will read the six chapters of John which deal with the famous discourse of the bread of life. These are the chapters 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 needs of the people in the desert, how much more will Jesus 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 to the Eucharist. 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 is not contained here is broke. This happened at the Last Supper to indicate that Jesus was going to be broken and sacrificed for us. 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 words are gave thanks. 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 gives himself to us so that we have enough to eat. It means we have enough to 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 in the messianic age. Jesus uses this opportunity to speak about Living Bread. He compares this to the manna that their forefathers ate in the desert. Jesus says he who eats this bread will live. Jesus, of course, was speaking about the soul: 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 than twenty barley loaves could feed. Yet Elisha was a man of God, and he believed that God would 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 to us in abundance.
Sincerely yours in Christ,