The context of the Gospel is clear:
Jesus hears about the death of John the Baptist.
In this situation, Jesus seeks solitude - he does not flee in fear but he needs time to prepare for his Mission. Then he knew that his time has come.
Yes, he needs now is peace and reflection ...
He undertakes this mission self-evidently; Jesus was so in many times.
He was so motivated in helping people, healing the sick, in speaking to them, in sharing meals... This self-evident style is seen in today's Gospel Passage. This self-evident nature is also required from his disciples - including us.
Jesus could of course avoid this unpleasant situation, if he had said, “I currently have no time, I must now take care of my job. I need time for myself ..." But he does not do it. In everything he sees and fulfils the will of God ...
Jesus sought his rest... But he saw the desperate people around him.
They called for help. Of course ... Jesus had "compassion" ...
He sees these people are thirsty and hungry.
As Isaiah indicates, what these people bought so far didn’t satiate their hunger and thirst.
After the judicial murder of John the Baptist, people go after him. John, the prophet is murdered, now Jesus is here and he remains their only hope.
Only Jesus sees their spiritual and physical hunger and thirst exactly.
So he taught and healed them ... It reduced their mental loads a little...
Then occurs the other problem, namely hunger of the body.
Now Jesus asks his disciples to solve it.
The disciples represent normal people: they symbolize the helplessness ... They wish to send these people back home. Through this they can achieve two goals:
1. they do not need to take care of the food issue;
2. Jesus and the disciples can take rest.
Jesus is not returning them or asking them to go to another person.
He has compassion for them and asked his disciples. “give them some food yourselves“.
As the Evangelist tells us, Jesus knew that his disciples had 'something' to share. “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here “. It was their food for the evening. If they dare to share it, even Jesus gets no bread in the evening.
But Jesus does not care about his own hunger and food. He wants that it is shared. Jesus is giving an example for his disciples and to us:
First, he shares his private time for others, he now shares his dinner.
In the Love and through the heavenly Blessings, the Time and the Bread turns to consolation and Food for many.
What happens at the end?
There is more bread than in the beginning. 12 baskets full of bread...
Not only the people are happy but the disciples too.
They learned some lessons too in this evening:
The apostles will not consider the “bread” as their bread only.
This is the "bread of blessings" and it is for the people of God.
The apostle learn again:
they have to share everything in the future.
It's not the quantity but the love of God and trust in the divine are important. Later we see that they shared "the bread of blessing, not only in Israel but also throughout the world. As the Eucharist - and as self-sharing breads!
They learn a new theory:
to give means to receive. And it is repeated…
Possessing may give joy to few people: but sharing can give greater joy...
Jesus shared his time, his bread and his life for others. Now everyone is glad. People are happy, the disciples are also happy. So Jesus sends the people back; his disciples will go to the other side ...
Now Jesus can turn to prayer in peace and gratitude.
Worship is perfect when we see the plight of the people and serve them and become one with God. Prayer and action, yes both should happen; both are important. Then the joy is perfect. Let us move to this perfection of the Heavens. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
Jesus hears about the death of John the Baptist.
In this situation, Jesus seeks solitude - he does not flee in fear but he needs time to prepare for his Mission. Then he knew that his time has come.
Yes, he needs now is peace and reflection ...
He undertakes this mission self-evidently; Jesus was so in many times.
He was so motivated in helping people, healing the sick, in speaking to them, in sharing meals... This self-evident style is seen in today's Gospel Passage. This self-evident nature is also required from his disciples - including us.
Jesus could of course avoid this unpleasant situation, if he had said, “I currently have no time, I must now take care of my job. I need time for myself ..." But he does not do it. In everything he sees and fulfils the will of God ...
Jesus sought his rest... But he saw the desperate people around him.
They called for help. Of course ... Jesus had "compassion" ...
He sees these people are thirsty and hungry.
As Isaiah indicates, what these people bought so far didn’t satiate their hunger and thirst.
After the judicial murder of John the Baptist, people go after him. John, the prophet is murdered, now Jesus is here and he remains their only hope.
Only Jesus sees their spiritual and physical hunger and thirst exactly.
So he taught and healed them ... It reduced their mental loads a little...
Then occurs the other problem, namely hunger of the body.
Now Jesus asks his disciples to solve it.
The disciples represent normal people: they symbolize the helplessness ... They wish to send these people back home. Through this they can achieve two goals:
1. they do not need to take care of the food issue;
2. Jesus and the disciples can take rest.
Jesus is not returning them or asking them to go to another person.
He has compassion for them and asked his disciples. “give them some food yourselves“.
As the Evangelist tells us, Jesus knew that his disciples had 'something' to share. “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here “. It was their food for the evening. If they dare to share it, even Jesus gets no bread in the evening.
But Jesus does not care about his own hunger and food. He wants that it is shared. Jesus is giving an example for his disciples and to us:
First, he shares his private time for others, he now shares his dinner.
In the Love and through the heavenly Blessings, the Time and the Bread turns to consolation and Food for many.
What happens at the end?
There is more bread than in the beginning. 12 baskets full of bread...
Not only the people are happy but the disciples too.
They learned some lessons too in this evening:
The apostles will not consider the “bread” as their bread only.
This is the "bread of blessings" and it is for the people of God.
The apostle learn again:
they have to share everything in the future.
It's not the quantity but the love of God and trust in the divine are important. Later we see that they shared "the bread of blessing, not only in Israel but also throughout the world. As the Eucharist - and as self-sharing breads!
They learn a new theory:
to give means to receive. And it is repeated…
Possessing may give joy to few people: but sharing can give greater joy...
Jesus shared his time, his bread and his life for others. Now everyone is glad. People are happy, the disciples are also happy. So Jesus sends the people back; his disciples will go to the other side ...
Now Jesus can turn to prayer in peace and gratitude.
Worship is perfect when we see the plight of the people and serve them and become one with God. Prayer and action, yes both should happen; both are important. Then the joy is perfect. Let us move to this perfection of the Heavens. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
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