July 29, Loaves and Fishes – a Sunday Scriptures blog

loaves-and-fishesOur current Scripture cycle is B, and Mark’s Gospel is used. But Mark’s is a short Gospel, so for five weeks in year B, we switch to the Gospel of John. We read the “bread of life” passages from John, chapter 6. Remember, John’s account of the Last Supper does not include Jesus breaking and blessing bread. But in his sixth chapter it is clear that when he wrote this Gospel around 100-110 C.E., the Eucharist was being celebrated. We begin today hearing the famous miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. The awe factor of the miracle is how few loaves and fish there were to start, and how many leftovers there were at the end. Abundance. God’s love is abundant! Too often conflicts begin because we are worried there won’t be enough to go around — enough jobs if immigrants take them, enough inheritance from parents, enough land to share in contested territory. Fearing scarcity turns us into hoarders — of things, of information or knowledge, of people, of power. St. Ignatius of Loyola’s prayer “Suscipe” ends with this line: Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me. When I consider all the many things God has given me during my life, I can let go of concerns about the future and pray those lines with confidence, knowing that God will keep multiplying those loaves and fishes!

— Blog entry by Sister Mary Garascia

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