JESUS TURNS OUR INSUFFICIENCY INTO ABUNDANCE

Homily for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scripture Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 6:1-15

On this Sunday, we encounter miraculous feedings in both the first and gospel readings. These events reveal to us God’s compassionate concern for our physical and spiritual needs as well as God’s ability to provide abundantly, even when human resources seem insufficient. 

In the first reading, we witness a miracle performed by the prophet Elisha. A man brought twenty barley loaves and fresh ears of grain as an offering. Despite the servant’s doubt about the adequacy of this food for a hundred men, Elisha insisted on distributing it, proclaiming the word of the Lord: “They shall eat and have some left.” Miraculously, the small offering fed the crowd, and there were leftovers.

This miracle foreshadows the miracle of the multiplication of loaves which we find in today’s gospel reading. The narrative began with Jesus noticing the large crowd following him because of the signs he performed on the sick. He then asked Philip, “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” (John 6:5). Like the servant of Elisha who expressed doubt, Philip’s response and Andrew’s suggestion of a boy with five barley loaves and two fish, highlight the human limitations and the apparent impossibility of the situation. However, Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to the crowd. Like the miracle of Elisha, all five thousand were fed, and twelve baskets of leftovers were gathered. 

These two miracles remind us to trust in God’s ability to provide for our needs, even when our resources seem inadequate. They show us how small, seemingly insignificant offerings can be transformed by God into abundant blessings. They serve as a powerful reminder that God can multiply our humble efforts when we offer them in faith and thanksgiving. They invite us to trust in God’s providence and to recognize that what we have, though it may seem little, can become a source of blessing for many when placed in Jesus’ hands. 

Also, the feeding miracles highlight the call to share what we have with others. Just as the people brought bread to both Elisha and Jesus, we too are called to be generous with our resources, trusting that God will use our offerings to bless others abundantly. The acts of the early Christians, who “shared everything they had” (Acts 4:32), is an example for us to follow in our own communities. Jesus’ words, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted” (John 6:12), teach us to appreciate and make the most of God’s gifts.

Jesus’ act of giving thanks before the miracle underscores the importance of gratitude. By acknowledging God’s blessings and expressing thankfulness, we open ourselves to experiencing his abundant provision in our lives. Paul’s exhortation to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) echoes this sentiment, reminding us that a grateful heart attracts more blessings.

Lastly, the feeding of the five thousand is more than just a miracle of provision; it is a sign pointing to the Eucharist. In the Gospel of John, this miracle sets the stage for Jesus’ Bread of Life discourse, where he explained that he is the true bread from heaven (John 6:35). The act of Jesus taking bread, giving thanks, and distributing it to the people mirrors the actions he will later perform at the Last Supper, instituting the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the ultimate manifestation of God’s provision and love, where we receive not just physical nourishment but the very body and blood of Christ, sustaining us spiritually.