Introit

 

Kyrie

 

Gloria

 

Collect

O God, protector of those who hope in you,
without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy,
bestow in abundance your mercy upon us
and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide,
we may use the good things that pass
in such a way as to hold fast even now
to those that ever endure.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading 2 Kgs. 4:42-44

A man came bringing food from the first fruits to Elisha, the man of God: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, “Give it to the people and let them eat.” 43 But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred people?” So Elisha repeated, “Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the Lord, “They shall eat and have some left.” 44 The servant set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm PS 145:10-11,15-16,17-18

Second Reading Eph 4:1-6

I, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Alleluia Lk. 7:16

Gospel Jn 6:1-15

Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover festival was near. 5 When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Jesus, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Catena Nova

“Lord Jesus, how well I know You have no wish to allow these people here with me, to remain hungry but to feed them, with the food You distribute, and so, strengthened with Your food, they will have no fear of collapsing from hunger. I know, too, that You have no wish to send us away hungry, either… As You have said – You do not want them to collapse on the way, meaning to collapse in the byways of this life, before reaching the end of the road, before coming to the Father and understanding that You come from the Father.” … And so Christ shares out the foodstuffs and, there is no question, He wants to give it to all. He withholds it from no-one, for He provides for everyone. Nevertheless, when He breaks the loaves and gives them to the disciples, unless you hold out your hands to receive your portion, you will collapse along the way…This bread that Jesus breaks, is the mystery of the Word of God, it increases as it is distributed. With only a few words Jesus has provided abundant nourishment for all peoples. He has given us His words as bread and, while we are tasting them, they increase in our mouths… Even as the crowds are eating, the pieces increase and become more numerous to such an extent that, in the end, the leftovers are even more plentiful than the loaves that were shared (St. Ambrose of Milan).

Let us take note of the disciples’ trusting abandonment to God’s providence in life’s greatest necessities and their disdain for a life of luxury – there were twelve of them and they only had five loaves and two fish. They were not bothered by bodily things but dedicated all their zeal to the things of the soul. Moreover, they did not keep these provisions for themselves, they handed them over to the Saviour at once when He asked them for them. Let us learn from this example, to share what we have, with those in need, even if we only have a little. When Jesus asks them to bring the five loaves, they don’t say: “What will there be for us later on? Where will we find what is necessary for our own needs?” They obey promptly …Taking the loaves, then, the Lord broke them and entrusted the honour of distributing them to the disciples. He did not just want to honour them by this holy service but desired them to take part in the miracle, so as to be wholly convinced witnesses to it and, not forget what had taken place under their own eyes …. It is through them, that He made the people sit down and, that He distributed the bread, so that each one of them, might bear witness to the miracle accomplished at their hands …Everything in this event – the desert place, the bare ground, the small supply of bread and fish, the distribution of these same things to everyone without distinction, each one of them having the same as their neighbour – all this teaches us humility, frugality and fraternal charity. To love one another equally, to place everything in common amongst those who are serving the same God – this is what our Saviour is teaching us here (St John Chrysostom).

The miracles wrought by our Lord Jesus Christ are truly divine works, which lead the human mind through visible things to a perception of the Godhead. God is not the kind of being that can be seen with the eyes, and small account is taken of the miracles by which he rules the entire universe and governs all creation because they recur so regularly. Scarcely anyone bothers to consider God’s marvelous, his amazing artistry in every tiny seed. The Lord is a prophet, and the Lord is the Word of God, and without the Word of God no prophet can prophesy. And so certain works are excluded from the ordinary course of nature, works which God in his mercy has reserved for himself, so as to perform them at appropriate times. People who hold cheap what they see every day are dumbfounded at the sight of extraordinary works even though they are no more wonderful than the others. Governing the entire universe is a greater miracle than feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread, yet no one marvels at it. People marvel at the feeding of the five thousand not because this miracle is greater, but because it is out of the ordinary. Who is even now providing nourishment for the whole world if not the God who creates a field of wheat from a few seeds? Christ did what God does. Just as God multiplies a few seeds into a whole field of wheat, so Christ multiplied the five loaves in his hands. For there was power in the hands of Christ. Those five loaves were like seeds, not because they were cast on the earth but because they were multiplied by the one who made the earth. This miracle was presented to our senses in order to stimulate our minds; it was put before our eyes in order to engage our understanding, and so make us marvel at the God we do not see because of his works which we do see. For then, when we have been raised to the level of faith and purified by faith, we shall long to behold, though not with our eyes, the invisible God whom we recognize through what is visible. This miracle was performed for the multitude to see; it was recorded for us to hear. Faith does for us what sight did for them (St. Augustine of Hippo).

The disciples say that they have only five loaves and two fish. The five loaves signified that they were still subject to the five books of the Law and the two fish that they were fed by the teachings of the prophets and John the Baptist… This was what the apostles had to offer to begin with since this was the point they were at and it was from this point, that the preaching of the Gospel began… Our Lord took the loaves and the fish.   He raised his eyes to heaven, said the blessing and broke them. He gave thanks to the Father because the Good News was being changed into food after centuries of the Law and the prophets…The loaves were then given to the apostles, it was at their hands, that the gifts of divine grace were to be handed out. Then the people were fed with the five loaves and two fish and, when those who were invited were satisfied, the leftovers of bread and fish were so plentiful that twelve baskets were filled with them. What this means is that the crowd was filled with God’s word coming from the teaching of the Law and the prophets. But it is an abundance of divine power, kept aside for the gentiles, that overflows after the provision of the food that lasts forever (St. Hilary of Poitiers).

In the twinkling of an eye the Lord multiplied a little bread. What human beings do in ten months of work, His ten fingers do in an instant … Nevertheless, He didn’t measure this miracle by its power but, according to the hunger of those who were there. If the miracle had been measured by its power, it would be impossible to evaluate it; measured according to the hunger of those thousands of people, the miracle went beyond the twelve baskets. Among artisans, their power is inferior to the customers’ desire; they cannot do everything that is asked of them. Contrary to them, what God accomplishes goes beyond all desire … When they had been satiated, like the Israelites in past times through the prayer of Moses, they cried out: “This is undoubtedly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” They were referring to the words of Moses: “A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you.” Not just any prophet, but “a prophet like me” (Dt 18:15), Who will satiate you with bread in the desert. Like me, He walked on the sea, He appeared in the luminous cloud (Mt 17:5), He freed His people. He handed Mary over to John just like Moses handed over his flock to Joshua …But the bread of Moses was not perfect, it was only given to the Israelites. Because He wanted to show, that His gift is superior to that of Moses and the call to the nations still more perfect, our Lord said: “If anyone eats this bread he shall live forever,” for the bread from God “has come down from heaven” and is given to the whole world (Jn 6:51) (St. Ephrem the Syrian).

This is no bit of magic on Jesus’ part – to accomplish it He looks toward heaven, toward His Father, with both petition and thanksgiving (eucharistia):  “Father, I thank you for hearing me.” (Jn 11:42)   His lavish giving away of Himself in the loaves, will be a sign of the way the Father’s love utterly lavishes His Son on the world. Then He blesses the bread, for the Father has left everything to the Son, including the bestowal of heaven’s blessing. He breaks it, which points both to His own brokenness in the Passion and to the way His gifts will be limitlessly multiplied by the work of the Holy Spirit in every Eucharistic celebration. Thus, through this visible image, we realise that truine Love itself, becomes present in the Eucharistic self-giving of Jesus (Hans Urs von Balthasar).

Before the suffering, loneliness, poverty  and difficulties of so many people, what can we ourselves do? Complaining doesn’t resolve anything but we can offer the little that we have, like the lad in the Gospel. We surely have a few hours of time, certain talents, some skills…. Who among us doesn’t have “five loaves and two fish” of his own? We all have them!  If we are willing to place them in the Lord’s hands,  they will be enough to bring about a little more love, peace, justice and especially joy in the world (Pope Francis).

Homily

 

What is Eucharistic revival?  We know that such revival, while it is always accompanied by sacramental devotion, must extend beyond devotional practices as well.  When we are truly “revived” by the Eucharist, then our encounter with Christ’s real presence in the Sacrament opens us to an encounter with Him in the rest of our life.  This means seeing Him everywhere we go.  It means meeting Him in the interactions we have with others.  Not only is He present in our family, friends, and communities; but He is also present in our encounters with people from whom we would otherwise consider ourselves “divided”.  This might include people from a different economic class or race, people who challenge our way of thinking, and people whose perspective is informed by experiences that differ greatly from our own.  When we encounter such people — and when the competitive logic of the world urges us to become defensive — Christ is present to be a bridge.  Christ, the firstborn of all creation, wants to be a bridge between people who are members of the same human family: people who are children of the same Father in heaven, and whose destiny is to be united in love within the same eternal household.  If we are experiencing true “Eucharistic revival”, then one of the signs will be a greater movement on our part to build bridges of unity.

     I suspect the nuncio had in mind the highly polarized political climate in the United States as well as considerable divisions within the Catholic Church in the United States.  Another  bishop at the center of the storm, so to speak, is Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington where a political drama was unfolding during the Congress.  During a homily he gave, Gregory said

believing in Christ’s genuine Eucharistic Presence must also prompt our equally important active response to that Presence in charity in each of our lives offered in service and with care for others, for without that response, the sincerity of our earnest reverence for the Blessed Sacrament will fail to capture the essence of why Christ chooses to remain with us by way of this wondrous Presence.

The most prolonged and profound adoration moments will be inadequate unless they direct us to deeds of kindness toward others. This Eucharistic gift must prompt us to live as does the compassionate Christ who chooses to remain in our midst under the forms of Bread and Wine.

The highest forms and acts of charity, the determined pursuit of social justice and the genuine compassionate outreach toward the poor and the neglected generated from a belief in, and as a response to, Christ’s Eucharistic Presence is a spiritual journey. It is the light that comes from faith – the brilliance that comes as a response to that faith.

     Teachings such as these, if taken to heart, ought to alleviate concerns that the Eucharistic theology and practices prominent at the Congress were not necessarily unbalanced or a throwback to attitudes and emphases predating the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. For In the end, the Eucharist invites us both to feed the hungers of humanity with the Bread of life and to give due honor to the fragments left over (cf. G) so that this divine Sacrament which Christ himself gave us with love beyond all telling may profit us for salvation (Prayer after Communion).  Who lives and reigns, forever and ever.  Amen.

Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Website)

For the Church: that we may be open to God’s generous love and be filled with gratitude for all the ways God has provided for us.

For the grace to bear with one another: that God will give us patience and gentleness to bear with one another through our differences and limits so that we can help one another follow God’s call.

For unity amongst all believers: that the Spirit of God who has brought us into the one body through baptism will draw us into common prayer and service of God’s reign.

For a deeper awareness of the hungers of our hearts: that God will help us to recognize our deepest desires that God has planted within us and guide us in bringing them to fulfillment.

For all who bring food to our table each day: that God will bless abundantly those who farm, transport, stock the shelves, and cook the food we eat and provide for them and their families.

For all who hunger for freedom: that God will free those imprisoned unjustly, caught in human trafficking, or who live under oppression, heal their pain, and give them hope.

For all who endure hunger each day, particularly orphans, refugees, and the marginalized: that God will open avenues for food to reach them and help our hearts to be more sensitive to their needs and more aware of our abundance.

 O God, you open wide your hand, giving us food in due season.  Out of your never-failing abundance,     satisfy the hungers of body and soul and lead all peoples of the earth to the feast of the world to come. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen (ICEL; 1998).

Offertory Antiphon

Offertory Hymn

 

After the people had seen the sign that Jesus did, they said: “This is truly the prophet who is to come into the world.”

Communion Antiphon

Closing Hymn