Homily For Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 28th July, 2024

 

Reading: 2Kings 4:42-44; Ps. 145; Eph.4:1-6; John 6:1-15

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS THE SACRIFICE OF MY FIVE BARLEY LOAVES AND TWO FISH

 

A deep reflection on what is going on in our families, our societies, our country and the world at large, one will be deeply distressed and worried especially as regards the crises caused by human selfishness, greed, excessive desire for power and influential things of this passing world.

 

These no doubt bring about the effects of wars, high inflation of basic human needs which brings about several protests around the globe, as well as the effects of the ongoing hunger pandemic, which are taking different forms and shapes in our country today. Hence, we are constantly in need of one thing or the other; we are never tired of searching for things that will satisfy our desire for physical and spiritual well-being.

 

This ugly situation can be compared to the condition of the people in our Gospel passage today. When they heard about Jesus, they went after him on foot, searching for solutions to their problems. So, as Jesus stepped ashore, he saw a large crow, and he took pity on them and healed their sickness and also miraculously fed them with just five barley loaves and two fish provided by a little boy.

 

Here, Jesus fulfils his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases and troubles. The healing touch of Jesus reveals to all those who are in need that God is faithful to his promises. This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people. But Jesus did not just heal the sick; he also fed the crowd in fulfilment of the word of God in our first reading today, when prophet Elisha said: thus says the Lord, “They will eat and have some left over.” Thus, he served them; they ate and had some leftovers, as the Lord had said.

 

Moreover, we can interpret this miracle of feeding the crowd in two ways. First, we can simply interpret it as a miraculous event, pointing to the divine origin and mission of Jesus, who has come to save us from our troubles. Secondly, we can interpret the miracle as the fruit of sharing, for it is possible that once the disciples began to share the little five barley loaves and two fish provided sacrificially by the little boy which Jesus blessed, other people who also had brought some food with them started also sharing what they have brought and indeed grace multiplied what they have to the point of having left over.

 

This is a great lesson for us because in this miracle we can see that if we can let go of our selfish and greedy attitudes and make little sacrifices of our five barley loaves and two fish we can bring about that miracle we all desire to have in our lives as individuals, families, societies, country and the world at large.

 

But, what are these five barley loaves and two fish? These are those special things we have, but we have refused to offer them for the goodwill and well-being of humanity. Those things we are hiding, those things we are thinking that will guarantee us safety. That money in the bank that you’re not using now, that house you have built and no one is staying in. Those cars you have packed in your house that are decaying.

 

Those properties you have abandoned and are decaying. Those resources you embezzled and are hoarding for your selfish gain. Those talents and skills you have failed to use. Those people you have failed to forgive. Those people you have put in prison and hospital because of your deception and negligence. Those people you have failed to visit. Those policies you have failed to implement, those contracts that you have failed to complete.

 

These and many more are the five barley loaves and two fish we are called today to offer for our well-being and the goodwill of our families, societies, countries and humanity at large. So, why are you still hiding your five barley loaves and two fish? Why do you think that you don’t have five barley loaves and two fish to offer for the well-being of others? Is your life not more than five barley loaves and two fish? If only we can learn to sincerely offer and utilize our God-giving five barley loaves and two fish, our families, societies, and the country will be better, for we will have enough and even left over for other generations. This shows the connection of this prophecy with the miracle in our Gospel passage today.

 

More so, this feeding of the crowd refers back to the journey of the people of God in the desert from Mount Sinai to the promised land, which, in a special way, signifies the event of our Eucharistic celebration. The Eucharist has the same characteristics of this miracle: the community gathers together and experiences the transformation of humble elements into a glorified body of Christ to satisfy our spiritual hunger, which is an abundant gift of God to humanity. In fact, because of the link to the Eucharist, this is the only miracle that is reported by all the four Gospels.

 

So, as Jesus heals and feeds the physical aspect of humanity, he also knows that we need the food of the Eucharist to sustain us spiritually for our journey to heaven which is our promised land. Here, Jesus did not bring the loaves and fish out of nowhere. Rather, he took what was offered to him and multiplied them greatly. This bread is the gift of the Eucharist, which we receive back from Jesus, whose heart is always moved with pity and compassion towards us.

 

Dear friends, God loves us so much, that he is willing and ready to satisfy our unquenchable hunger for physical and spiritual things. How I wish humanity could give up greed, selfishness, hatred, and embezzlement of our common resources in order to embrace true love for one another and learn to share our resources for the purpose for which they are created. Believe me, when these are done the world will witness another miracle of multiplication of resources that will be enough for everyone with left over for the future generations.

 

But we have failed to embrace this love, we have failed to share this love with one another or give up our ugly attitudes. Little wonder St. Paul, in our second reading, implores us to lead a life worthy of our vocation, bearing with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. He encouraged us to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds us together. Therefore, let us embrace Jesus and the love he is offering us. Let us, like Jesus, have compassion and love for everyone by offering our five barley loaves and two fish  for the goodwill and wellbeing of humanity.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are really hungry and in need of your love and satisfaction both physically and spiritually; feed us once again with your heavenly grace and multiply the little bread and fish we share with others and provide for us the basic needs of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed Sunday.