(Homily for 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
1.0. The Miracle
“How am I to set this before a hundred men?” the servant asked Elisha. At the word of God the Prophet responded, “They shall eat and have some left.” Thus Elisha fed so many with so little. In the Gospel, while Elisha fed 100 men with 20 loaves, Jesus fed 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. God, who created from nothing, is able to give abundance from so little.
2.0. The Bread and Fish
Elisha fed them with bread and grains, while Jesus multiplied bread and fish. The hallmark of the miracles is that surplus came from so little. What was brought was insignificant in the face of such magnitude of demand. In the readings, we encounter the God who can turn our little inputs into great outs.
We have so much temporal and spiritual hunger. And what we often have by ourselves in the face these are like few loaves and fish before the multitude. We rarely can keep ourselves contented by our efforts and achievements. In an effort to quench this hunger some have entered the world of pleasure, consumerism, power and ego, etc. These deepen the hunger and leave a residue of frustration. Our bread and fish cannot satisfy...
3.0. Bread and Fish offered
Elisha committed the bread and grain to the word of God, while Jesus lifted up the bread and fish...Thus what was little before men was in turn received from God as abundance! What could not satisfy from human perspective, is received back from God with utmost satisfaction. God's providence does not fail. Our little temporal and spiritual resources, such as time, health, wealth, faith, virtue, etc, cannot guarantee our spiritual and physical security. But when we offer them to God, we receive in return abundance of satisfaction, even while these resources appear little before us.
Thus, St Paul enjoins us to respond to our vocation with utmost humility. It is God who gives the increase. In gentility we offer ourselves, being pour way like libation to God. Whatever is offered to God does not diminish.
4.0.The Bread that Satisfies
In lifting the bread to the Father for the people, Jesus gave the ultimate sign that points to Himself as the Bread of the life. He is the living Bread, offered up for us that all generations may eat and be satisfied. In the Eucharistic, therefore, we offer up our humble selves with all our hunger. In the Eucharist lies immeasurable serenity and satisfaction that awaits all who participate faithfully. This is the real Bread that Satisfies.
Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Mother of Perpetual Shrine
Enugu.
29/07/2018
