Food For Thought

17th Ordinary Sunday

My mom told me of this tradition among farmers in some places: Whenever it was harvest time, they would set aside their first gathering as a gift for their various gods. And in some places, the farmers would bring their first harvest to their church, where all that is gathered will be blessed by the priest and then redistributed to the people.

And this is exactly the focus of this week’s Gospel (John 6:1-15).

It tells the famous story of how Jesus multiplies five loaves and two fish to feed a large crowd. As Friar Mike pointed out in his homily, on first encounter, this story seems unrealistic to our rational minds. How can five loaves and two fish be multiplied to satisfy almost five thousand people? Who is the Gospel writer trying to kid? But Friar Mike drew our attention to the fact that this incident is recounted by all four Gospel writers, which means that it must be of great significance. And if it doesn’t make sense logically, then the significance must lie in something beyond logic: It is a miracle attesting to the power of God for whom “impossible is nothing”.

Friar Mike then asked us to consider who the Gospel was really about: The hungry people? Philip, who is sceptical about feeding them? Andrew, who finds the boy with the five loaves and two fish, but is equally doubtful? Or the boy, who offered what little he had? Indeed, we should offer all that we have, no matter how meagre, up to the Lord, and trust that He will make use of it and nourish others with our gift.