This week, we have been deepening our reflections on the Gospel of last Sunday, the multiplication of the loaves and fish. The miracle that feeds hungry people on the mountain is not just a multiplication; it points us towards the Eucharist; it is an anticipation of the Eucharist.
Notice how John situates this miracle: in the
context of the Jewish Feast of Passover and the crossing of the Sea of Galilee. If we think about the journey of the people of Israel, we are also reminded of how the Hebrews were delivered at the Feast of the Passover and how they fled from the Egyptians through the Red Sea. Jesus sitting down at the hillside reminds us of Moses as the excellent teacher of the Law who was the leader of the Hebrews, teaching them the commandments and leading them to the Promised Land. The Gospel of John reminds
us that Jesus, and all he says and does, is rooted in the Old Testament.
When we participate in the Eucharist, we are united with Jesus. Our union with Jesus also invites us to union with others and, therefore, to action. Vatican II taught us that the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Church’s life” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1324). Our participation in the Eucharist brings us into union with Christ but
also sends us out to others. Our mission must always be accomplished in communion with each other and for others worldwide.
St. Paul underscores the importance of unity in Christ and action when he says, “I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the
peace that binds you together.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)
Therefore, the Eucharist is more than just a meal, more than just a sacrament of the real presence of the Lord in the bread and wine; it is the cause of our union with Jesus and each other.
The people on the mountain knew that what Jesus did was not just feed them with bread and fish. At the end of
the text, they proclaim that a “prophet [who] has come into the world”. When we participate in the Eucharist and then feed the hungry - in the broadest sense of the word -we share the life of the prophet who has come into the world.
How often do you partake in the Eucharist? Do you see the intimate relationship between union with Jesus and union with others? In what ways does your life, through your actions, reveal the prophet who
has come into the world?
Reflections by Russell Pollitt SJ
