(Feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of the BVM)

“Fil-Mission Sunday”

READINGS:   2 Kings 4:42-44   /   Psalm 145: 10-11. 15-16. 17-18   /   Ephesians 4: 1-6   /    JOHN 6: 1-15

 

HIS WORD… WHERE CAN WE BUY ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEM TO EAT? …HAVE THE PEOPLE RECLINE… GATHER THE FRAGMENTS LEFT OVER, SO THAT NOTHING WILL BE WASTED.

my words… Today, we begin reflecting on the Bread of Life Discourse in John’s gospel Chapter Six. And the opening salvo of the discourse is the Johannine Miraculous Feeding narrative which is full of symbolisms. And let us reflect on two prominent symbols among the many in John’s account.

First, the BARLEY LOAVES are identified. All four evangelists recounted the Miraculous Feeding story but John made a difference; he mentioned the kind of bread used by Jesus to feed the multitude, “the barley loaves.” What is John emphasizing here? In the ancient Philippines, the status symbol of people was identified by the food cereal they ate, the rice and corn; the rice for the rich, the corn for the poor. Rice was usually paired with meat (for the rich), while the corn is paired with dried or salted fish (for the poor). So also during the time of Jesus, the wheat loaf was the staple food for the rich, while the barley loaf was the meager food for the poor. Hence, John is emphasizing here that the Holy Eucharist is based on or drawn from the “food of the poor”. And it is very clear that the base or foundation or groundwork of the HOLY EUCHARIST is the food of the poor.

Second, the GENEROSITY OF THE BOY is underlined. Usually children are more openly generous than adults maybe because they don’t carry with them any social and periodic obligations; unlike adults who usually consider periodic payments of dues like taxes, monthly bills, tuition fees, and even unwarranted debts, and other social obligations and responsibilities so the tendency to be budgeting and thrifty. Jesus in the Holy Eucharist wants our open generosity; a generosity that is truly coming from our hearts. It is in giving that we receive… and graces are multiplied when we become Christly generous. The collection baskets that are passed around during the offertory of the Mass contain the symbols of our generous hearts and lives.

Brothers and Sisters, Jesus is our FOOD for eternal life. And the food that He first blest which satisfied the multitude was “the food of the poor.” May we generously share this food to one another especially to our poor brothers and sisters in utter simplicity so that they too may become aware that Jesus loves them and wants to be with them as their food of life. And in sharing this food of life, may we become as generous as the little boy in the gospel, so that these graces can satisfy more poor people more abundantly for our salvation and for the glory of God.

Today is Fil-Mission Sunday. Let us now share our loaves of graces to our Filipino Missionaries so that the WORD OF GOD will satisfy more people in the whole wide world (www.com).

LET US BE GENEROUS SHARERS OF GOD’S GRACE AND LOVE… AND GOD WILL BLESS AND SATISFY US… (By Fr. Julius C. Lupot)