| Reading 1 | Response | Reading 2 | Gospel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 4:42-44 | Ps 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18 | Eph 4:1-6 | Jn 6:1-15 |
| RCL: Eph 3:14-21 | RCL: Jn 6:1-21 |
Bread of life: sign, test, and teaching
During Ordinary time the Lectionary presents stories and teachings from Jesus’ everyday ministry. This week’s readings focus on seeing and understanding God’s care and feeding of disciples.
First reading (2 Kgs 4:42-44)
The first reading is from the Second book of Kings, which includes stories about the prophets Elijah and Elisha. Elisha, Elijah’s successor, was a prophet in the north (Israel) during the divided kingdoms (Israel and Judah). In today’s pericope, an unnamed “man from Baal-shalishah” gives Elisha a gift of firstfruits, including twenty barley loaves. Constant fighting between Israel and Assyria reduced most inhabitants to poverty and starvation. Acting on God’s word, Elisha distributes the barley loaves to his hungry neighbors (the “hundred”). The people eat their fill, and, as God promised, “they had some left over.” The Lectionary editors chose this reading because many elements, such as a few barley loaves, a doubting disciple, the prophet’s command, feeding many, and leftover fragments, closely parallel today’s gospel.
Second reading (Eph 4:1-6)
The second reading is from the semi-continuous reading from the letter to the Ephesus ekklesia. In today’s pericope, the author exhorts the Ephesians to unity. He calls for unity through the community’s diverse gifts: humility, gentleness, patience; bearing with one another, and peace. “Bearing with one another” means accepting others without regard of status or ethnic origin (gentile or Jew). “Peace” binds the other virtues “the unity of the Spirit.” Using liturgical language, the author summarizes the ekklesia‘s unity: “one Lord” celebrates Christ’s victory over polytheistic gods; “one faith” encourages unity of belief against false teachers; “one baptism” urges honorable behavior in the community; “one God and Father” unites Jews and gentiles. In his closing, the author sums up God’s work of unity: God is king of the universe (“over all”); God unites everything and everyone through Christ (“through all”); God is visible in every aspect of creation (“in all”). The Lectionary editors chose this reading as part of Ordinary time’s semi-continuous reading from Ephesians.
Gospel (Jn 6:1-15)
This week the gospel evangelist changes from Mark to John. For the next five weeks, John’s gospel recounts the story of Jesus feeding five thousand (Jn 6:1-71). Today’s pericope describes the sign itself; the coming weeks’ pericopes, from Jesus’ “bread of life” discourse, explain and interpret Jesus’ sign.
- The sign of feeding. Jesus already knows what he will do, but he uses the opportunity to test and teach his disciples. Philip and Andrew see only limits to Jesus’ request (lack of money, only five loaves and two fish); they haven’t grasped Jesus’ teaching about unlimited nourishment in Jn 4:32-34. John describes Jesus’ feeding sign a few words: took, gave thanks, and distributed. The people eat until they are filled, leaving twelve baskets of leftovers. Jesus’ sign teaches about God’s superabundant care.
- The sign’s meanings. In Mark and Matthew, Jesus is moved by compassion to feed the shepherdless crowd. In John, Jesus acts to satisfy the crowd’s physical hunger, while also revealing that God’s kingdom can fulfill their spiritual hunger as well. John connects Jesus’ sign with stories and themes from Hebrew scripture, including manna in the wilderness (Ex 16:4-35, Nm 11:7-9), Elisha’s feeding the hundred (2 Kgs 4:42-44, first reading), and Ps 23. He also uses liturgical language (“take,” “give thanks,” “distribute,” “reclining” for a meal) to connect the sign with Eucharistic practices in his ekklesia. Jesus’ sign anticipates the messianic feast; it is a parable-in-action that God’s kingdom is near. The sign also foreshadows the Eucharist, the believing community’s eschatological meal.
Summary and reflection
This week’s readings ask us to think about how we see and interpret God’s care. Elisha, at God’s prompting, feeds a hundred people with a few barley loaves. The Ephesians author urges the community look for God in every aspect of creation. Jesus offers the sign of feeding five thousand to reveal a God who cares for people’s physical and spiritual needs and to reveal himself as prophet and messiah. How do we see God’s actions in our world? Do we limit God by seeing God with limited human understanding, or can we see beyond our own limits to God’s superabundance? Do we live in a small world, restricted to approved family and friends, or do we bear with one another, inviting all into community? Do we limit ourselves by fulfilling only our own needs, or do we accept God’s unlimited good gifts and share them freely?
—Terence Sherlock
The Lectionary In Context 