A large crowd followed him - John 6: 1-15
One of the key words in the writings of St. John is the verb "to seek". God the Father seeks "worshipers in spirit and truth" and Jesus seeks the glory of the Father. The disciples are looking for Jesus to be with Him, and the Jews to kill Him.
The crowd of people from today's Gospel is looking for Jesus for practical, selfish and utilitarian reasons; expects miraculous powers, healings. The fundamental question "who are you looking for?" (cf. Jn. 20:15) concerns the authenticity of the path with Jesus and must be asked by every Christian.
On the Sea of Galilee, Jesus teaches the crowd. However, it is not limited to the spiritual aspect. He also cares for material needs, for bread. Jesus also wants to involve his disciples in this concern. He would like them to get involved more deeply, to show concern for the whole person, also in the social aspect.
The tragedy of the modern world are two hungers: material and spiritual. The first one focuses energy on material gifts (or deficiencies) and, unfortunately, often closes to the spiritual needs and constantly deepens the distance from God. The second, more discreet and silent, reminds us that our lives become stunted without spiritual food. Our paradox (then) is that we are starving because our stomach is full (A. Pronzato).
The Evangelists emphasize four gestures of Jesus during the multiplication of the bread and the institution of the Eucharist, which Henry Nouwen interprets symbolically. Jesus took the bread: we are taken, accepted, loved by him. He blessed: God blesses us, he sees good in us, love. He broke: we are all broken people; we accept the Body of Christ so that He heal what is wounded and sick in our lives. Jesus was the first to allow himself to be broken in his passion and death in order to heal us through his wounds (cf. Is 53: 5). In each Eucharist, he bends down to heal and unite us. He gave his disciples: we must accept the Bread of Life in order to be like good bread for others. We do not accept food only for ourselves. We also accept Him for others.
At the foot of the altar in the Basilica of the Miraculous Multiplication of Bread in Tabgha are the remains of Byzantine mosaics from the 5th century. The most famous of them is a basket with bread and fish. However, contrary to the accounts of the Evangelists, the artist placed not five, but four loaves in the basket. The fifth bread is the Host, which throughout the world, every day and every minute, on the altar becomes the Body of Christ that has been nourishing mankind for two thousand years. The fifth bread is also every disciple of Jesus who lives and shares love with others.
Who (what) am I looking for? Am I the "fifth bread" for others?
Best wishes from Plock, Poland. Here, Ninety years ago ( February 22, 1931), in the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, St Faustina experienced the first apparition of the Merciful Jesus, telling her that an image of him be painted, signed "Jesus, I trust in you.”
You are all in my heart and prayer.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george