Seventeenth Sunday in OT ‘B’

Today’s readings invite us to become humble instruments in God’s hands by sharing our blessings with our needy brothers and sisters. They also remind us that if our country has been blessed with an abundance of earthly bread or with the technical capabilities to produce such abundance, then these gifts are for sharing with the poor and hungry people, no matter in what countries they live. Once physical hungers are satisfied, then we are challenged to satisfy the deeper hungers, for love, mercy, forgiveness, companionship, peace, and fulfillment.

The First Reading tells us how the Prophet Elisha, by invoking God’s power, fed one hundred men with twenty barley loaves. This miracle foreshadowed the Gospel account of Jesus' miraculous feeding of the crowd who followed Him to hear His words.

Today’s Psalm gives us the assurance that it is “the hand of the Lord that feeds us,” and that it is God who “answers all our needs.”

In the Second Reading, St. Paul reminds the Ephesians that Jesus united the Jews and the Gentiles by bringing them together as Christians in one faith and one baptism. They have to live together, helping each other by sharing their blessings. Paul urges us to become communities of sharing Christians.

The miraculous feeding of the five thousand people by Jesus, using five barley loaves and two fish, as described in today’s Gospel, is associated with the Holy Eucharist early in the Church’s tradition. The people immediately interpreted the miracle, giving Jesus two Messianic titles: “The prophet” and “the one who is to come.” This miracle teaches us that God works marvels through ordinary people. Elisha’s servant and Jesus’ disciples distributed the bread provided by God through generous people who were willing to share their food with the hungry. God meets the needs of people through the good will and services provided by members of His community.

The Gospel story teaches that Jesus meets the most basic human need, namely hunger, with generosity and compassion. God really cares about His people and that there is enough and more than enough for everybody. Studies show that the world today produces enough food grains to provide every human being on the planet with 3,600 calories a day, not counting root crops, vegetables, beans, nuts, fruits, meats, and fish. Let us pray and work for better social justice in all communities and countries.

As Christians we need to commit ourselves to share and to work with God in communicating His compassion to all as the early Christians did. God always blesses those who share their blessings and talents with loving commitment. Let us support our parish efforts in this field by participating in the food pantry drive and by other projects and works of charity.