THE 17TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME: MUCH IN LITTLE

THE 17^TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME: MUCH IN LITTLE

By Rev. Fr. Casmir Odundo

One of the earliest schools in our diocese (Nakuru, Kenya) is St. Xavier’s School. Today, it is a collection of three schools: Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary. While the three schools are now managed separately, they still hold on to some common elements. All of them put on the same uniform, are all catholic schools and have the same School motto.  The school(s) was originally associated with Goan Catholics; perhaps this explains the choice of its Patron Saint: St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit Missionary who preached in Goa, India. Among the many things that have always struck me about these schools is their motto: Much in Little. Perhaps the Motto was derived from the fact that the schools sit on a relatively small piece of land (as compared to other pre-independent schools). And so, Much is accomplished In Little acreage. Much In Little.

Our readings today, speak of this Much in Little. Despite the fact that the two were recorded by different Evangelists, this Sunday’s Gospel seems to be the continuation of Last Sunday’s. Last Sunday, the crowds followed Jesus to the other side of the sea and Jesus, “taught them many things,”. This Sunday the  crowds follow Jesus to the other side of the Sea and Jesus, “Feeds them with bread and fish,”. The obvious connection here is the Mass: Last Sunday was liturgy of the Word. This Sunday we are treated to the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

There are many things that we can say about the Gospel Passage but what strikes me immediately is just how Jesus accomplishes so much with so little. He feeds so many people from very little resources. Economics is the study of using the available few resources to get the greatest possible outcome. And Jesus must have been a great Economist. He accomplished so much with so little!

The Evangelist John tells us that Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Mountains imply the place of solitude and prayer while sitting imply authority. From the mountain Jesus saw a great crowd coming to him. Jesus asked Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” Why did Jesus address himself to Philip? According to Matthew Henry, Philip came from Bethsaida, a neighbouring town from the scene of the miracle so he could have been conversant with the place where such amounts of food could be bought. My take on the issue is based on the  personality of Philip. The Gospel presents Philip as ‘a bright fellow’. He was definitely well learned.  It is him the Greeks approached when they wanted to see Jesus (Jn 12:21). Philip was also very critical and realistic. He was definitely not a Yes-Guy. He was a man who would say things as they were. Later in the Gospel of St. John, when Jesus will talk of his relationship with the Father, Philip will not be afraid to say: Show us the Father and that it shall be sufficient.(Jn 14: 8). And true to expectations, Philip gave a very realistic answer to our Lords question regarding the feeding of the multitude:  “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.”

It is then that Andrew, points to a young man with five loaves of bread and two fish: “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”  This fact really struck me. There is a young BOY (Puer). The Greek word used there is Paidarion (Little Boy) from the word Pais (Boy). The Greek word for Child is Paidion. Who was this young man? Some scholars argue that this young man, just like every young man his age, was naturally be attracted, perhaps by curiosity, to  large crowds and so had perhaps tagged along with the crowds. But what was doing with the fish and the loaves? Because of this fact, some scholars think that he might have been a hawker, who seeing a large and perhaps hungry crowd was keen to make some profit. As a young person and a youth chaplain, I don’t take it for granted that the Evangelist John explicitly notes for us that the fish and bread that was to feed the over 5000 men was got from the hands of a young man. Young people are generous. From the example of this young man we see just how much young people can offer and contribute to the church and the society. Sometimes we hear of sad cases where young people’s voice and contributions have been totally ignored. I am happy that we are reading this passage when Pope Francis has called for a synod on the Youth in Rome this October. The purpose of this synod is to discuss together with the Bishops from all over the world about how the church can better serve and be available to the young people. The apostolate to the young is where the contemporary Church needs to spend much of her resources and focus! Similarly, we live in a country where over 60% of the Nation is below 35 years of age. If only we could trust our youth a bit! If only we could point to the five loaves and two fish that the youth have! Like Andrew, our nation needs to focus our attention on the youth. In the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 no bread was brought because a young man provided his!  In every youth, there is Much in Little.

The five loaves and two fish were so little (they must have been the small ones) that the little boy could carry all of them. But from those little gifts of the little boy, Jesus worked out a great miracle. It is not good to come to Jesus empty handed! We bring the little we have and he makes much from it! We should not be afraid of putting the small resources that we have to Gods work, Jesus will always supply what is lacking. Commenting on this miracle, St. Augustine drew the following analogy: “Jesus multiplied in his hands five loaves just as he produces harvest out few seeds.”

 But yet it is not just the bread and the fish that Jesus provided. We are also told, due to His providence, where the people sat there was a lot of grass. Lest we miss out the small miracles, the small favours that Jesus does for us because we are so much fixated on big things. The availability of the grass also points out to the season within which this miracle happened: It must have been in spring! For those who love God everything else works out for good.

St. John Chrysostom observes, “this miracle was not just in the multitude of loaves and fishes but also the multitude of fragments.” After the 5000 hungry men were fed 12 baskets full were collected. The number 12 of course shows perfection and the fact that these were collected reminds us of how the deacon or priest collects even the small fragments of the Eucharist that remain after communion.

In this Miracle Jesus gave thanks and distributed the food just like he gave thanks and distributed the Eucharist during the Last Supper. The miracle of the feeding of the 5000 therefore points to the Eucharist. In Mass, just like in the feeding of the 5000, we bring to God very ordinary and little things like bread and wine and he gives us the Greatest thing, The Eucharist: His own Body and Blood.

The miracle of the feeding of the 5000 made many Jews believe that Jesus was a prophet. Prophet Elisha in our first reading had fed over 100 people on 20 loaves. But Jesus was more than a prophet. He was more than an earthly king. He was God. A God who truly loves us to the point of feeding us not only with bread and fish…with the little things but also with the Greatest thing: His won body and Blood.

So what is our spiritual homework for this Sunday? First of all we should not hesitate to put the little things that God gives us to good use. A small thing can go a long way. From a simple smile great friendships have been won. Secondly, just as Jesus gave thanks over the five loaves and two fish we should equally not hesitate to thank God for the small gifts that Jesus brings our way. It is interesting to note that the prayer before meals like the prayer of Jesus before feeding the 5000 is a thanksgiving prayer.  Finally, just as food unites us, may we also who partake in the Eucharist “Strive to preserve the bond of unity,” as St. Paul in the second reading (His letter to the Ephesians) is reminding us.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the model of lowliness, always intercede for us!

The author is the Parochial Vicar: St. Veronica Keringet Parish. Email: casmirthomas28@gmail.com