Gospel:
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.
Gospel Trivia:
The feeding of the multitude is one story that appears in all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). John's message in this story is different from the other evangelists and is reflected in the following:
- only John mentions that the event happens during Passover, alluding to the Exodus event and the feeding of the Israelites with manna from heaven;
- thus, Jesus is being compared to the great prophet, Moses;
- the feeding is reflective of the eucharist, with Jesus taking the loaves, giving thanks, and distributing them to the crowd;
- fragments are gathered afterwards, which fills twelve baskets, (twelve being a perfect number); the Israelites also gathered manna during their journey, but only a day's portion; the twelve basketful gathered in the gospel account is so much more;
- thus, Jesus is compared to Moses, but is a lot greater than Moses;
- the gathering also alludes to the gathering of all of humankind, which is the purpose of the Kingdom of God, as symbolized in the Eucharist.
This story is more than just a miracle to show the power of Jesus, but establishes the role and mission of Jesus -- to feed, sustain and gather all peoples under the kingship of the Father.
Reference:
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Makati: St. Paul's Publications, 1989), pp. 75-79.
Gospel:
The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
Gospel Trivia:
This passage is to be read as the second part of last Sunday's gospel, which is the sending out of the Twelve on a mission “two by two".
We should therefore interpret this passage in relation to the mission of the disciples. “The disciples mission is to preach a change of mind, drive out demons, and cure the sick. It is an extension of Jesus’ own mission, and he gives them the power to accomplish this. The austere conditions (no food, money, luggage) would make it clear any results were not effected by human means.”*
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus commands the Twelve to rest and take a breather. But the rest is more than just physical rest because Jesus also asks them to be “by themselves,” and with Jesus, as well as away from the crowd.
The kind of rest referred to is both physical and spiritual rest, prior to another flurry of activity in managing the huge crowd in the feeding of the five thousand.
The kind of rest that Jesus can provide is like that of the shepherd who cares for the flock.
The “sheep without a shepherd” is used by Moses in Numbers 27:17 when he asks God to give the Israelites a leader. God appoints Joshua. “Jesus” is the Greek variant of the name Joshua in Hebrew. Jesus IS the good shepherd and he has compassion for his sheep. (Note: The original word used for compassion is “esplanchnisthe,” which refers to one’s guts, and is the strongest word to express a deep feeling of sympathy).
It is important to find the rhythm of activity and rest to sustain our growth and progress of Kingdom-building. This rest is both physical and spiritual rest, the latter to be found in prayer and reflection of God’s promptings in our lives. Without it, burnout ensues in our work of Kingdom building.
* Raymond E. Brown. An Introduction to the New Testament, New York: Doubleday, 1997. 135.
Gospel:
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Gospel Trivia:
The message of this gospel account is two fold:
- our mission is the continuation of Jesus' mission;
- material and physical needs are subordinate to this mission.
The mission is to spread the Kingdom of God. Click here for more on what is the Kingdom of God.
Note the following "trivia":
- "no money in their belts" - people carried money in either a pouch or money belts, with the former containing larger sums. Money in their belts are usually smaller change.
- when they are welcomed, Jesus advises that they "stay there until you leave" - the disciples are instructed to stay in the first house that welcomes them instead of looking around for better accommodations.
It should also be noted that:
- traveling missionaries were the only means of spreading news and ideas at that time; there were no mass or digital media;
- the mission assigned by Jesus entails both preaching and doing good works;
- the disciple should be prepared to be welcomed and rejected.
We are all missionaries. We carry out Jesus' mission in our home, workplace and community. And we should be prepared when others cooperate with us, or reject our ideas and principles.
Reference:
*Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Manila: St. Paul Publications, 1988), pp. 51-52.
- Raymond E. Brown et al (eds), The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1990), page 608
Gospel:
Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Gospel Trivia:
The usual curious question in this gospel passage is whether Jesus had siblings. Let's answer this question before getting to the main message of this account.
Did Jesus have brothers and sisters? Early and contemporary Catholic scholars explain this verse as follows:
- the Greek word for brother (adelphios) had a broad application beyond blood siblings, and can include a cousin, and even those especially closed to one's family, as in our contemporary use of the word "brother" and "sister" for close church members;
- the "children of Mary" refer to children of Mary of Clopas, Jesus' aunt and his mother's sister, making them cousins;
- two of the brothers mentioned here -- James and Joses -- are again mentioned in Mark 15:40 with specific reference to "Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome". Then, like now, "Mary" was quite a common name.
- these siblings were children of Joseph from a previous marriage; note that Joseph is mentioned only in the birth narrative, suggesting that he was much older and had died.
Now, to the main message of the gospel:
This account follows a series of miracle accounts from the previous Sundays: the cure of Jarius' daughter, the calming of the sea, and cure of the hemorrhaging woman. Followers then flock to him, amazed at his power and persuasiveness.
And now, this:
- Jesus is rejected and insulted in his native place. Being referred to as the "son of Mary" instead of the customary "son of Joseph" is considered a low blow;
- the verse "Jesus was not able to perform any mighty deed" does not suggest a limitation in his power or that there is a prerequisite link between faith and miracle (as in faith healing); but instead to the meaninglessness of performing a miracle amidst a crowd of skeptical, non-believers.
This passage is the antithesis of the previous accounts: without faith, there are no miracles. Its purpose is likely to address and encourage the early evangelizers who expectedly met more than a few of the unavoidable failures and rejections as they spread the Christian faith.
When we are ridiculed by what we believe (whether our faith or our principles of justice and fair play), we hang on our faith that Jesus' intent shall prevail.
References:
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Manila: St. Paul Publications, 1988), p. 49.
- Raymond E. Brown et al (eds), The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1990), page 608.
- http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201312/did-jesus-have-brothers-and-sisters-28224#sthash.8s3QvSem.dpuf
- http://www.catholic.com/blog/matt-fradd/jesus-had-brothers
