Holy Gospel according to John 6, 1-15
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’
When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Jesus fulfils your needs
1) Climbed the mountain. Jesus seeks that place of connection with God, his Father. The gospel begins saying that He goes to the mountain and ends by saying that He goes to the mountain again. That’s the place of intimacy and inner meditation. Today, you also must look for that ‘mountain’ in your life – that place and that time, in which you talk to God in a direct, intimate way. Slow down, dial down a notch and stop rushing around with millions of things on your plate. Stop being so distracted and begin to look inwardly at yourself. May your day begin with those minutes on your ‘mountain’ and end on your ‘mountain’, that time and space you share with God.
2) Feed them. People are in great need, there is hunger, physical and spiritual hunger. Their needs always surpass solutions, but it is faith that satisfies. Faith resolves hunger and our needs, this also requires action on our part. It is faith that makes your ‘little’ become ‘a lot’. A small contribution can be the start of a great miracle. Of course, there will always be prophets of calamity who want to tear down your plans and projects. Trust in God! You know He can do great things with your small contribution.
3) They wanted to make him king. Humility is essential, Jesus is not boastful. He doesn’t live to please others. He doesn’t do things to look good, and He doesn’t respond to demands that others make of Him. He is clear about who He is, and what He’s here for. Please be careful. Don’t live to please others; and don’t do things just to be praised. Don’t fall into behaving like someone’s ‘slave’ so as not to look bad. If you know who you are and what your mission is in this world, don’t give up, because that’s how you’ll satiate the needs of a lot of people.
God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Always remember that Heaven is our goal!
