Today is the 4th Sunday of Lent, called the “Laetare Sunday,” where we are invited to reflect on the Introit antiphon from Isaiah 66:10-11: “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and come together all you that love her, rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation.” Laetare means “rejoice” which expresses hope and joy during our Lenten fasts and penances. Our color “rose” today indicates a glimpse of the joy that awaits us at Easter, just before entering Holy Week. Let us take advantage of the richness of our Catholic traditions.
The epistle today is taken from the letter of St. Paul to the Galatians. St. Paul is speaking to these Galatians about being under the law, meaning to say that they keep relying on their self-effort to keep the law by maintaining a right relationship with God. Every person must be freed from any kind of slavery or bondage of sins, rather to be free for “wherewith Christ has made us free.” Let us earn approval from God by our own effort to live consistently doing works of righteousness. Our conscious action is to try harder, and that will lead us to happiness, rather than depression.
How can sinners like us stand in a right relationship with the holy God? How can we be in a right relationship with God? We must first believe, repent, and do something good. All good actions result in good realities, and we must begin to live a joy filled, fruitful and comforting life as Catholics.
In today’s gospel Jesus begins to share His kindness with the multitude of people by being sensitive to their condition. We give keen attention to Jesus’ miraculous sign by feeding everyone. This will help us to understand God’s provision to the chosen people of Israel in the Old Testament and Jesus’ multiplication of bread, which prefigures the Eucharist. Today, though, we are going to look at the miracle that sets on this gospel pericope in John 6:1-15.
First, Jesus said: “Make the men sit down,” to provide them food to eat. It is an amazing gesture of Jesus’ care and love for His people, which is also at the same time a clear message and sign of how He cares for them in all eternity. Through that boy with five barley loaves and two fish, Jesus took the loaves and the fish, He blessed them and gave thanks, and “they were filled.” I believe that our insignificant contribution, like that of the little boy, and if presented generously and wholeheartedly to Christ, makes it possible for a miracle to happen.
Second, this story about the multiplication of bread and fish is about the power of Jesus, not only to fill our own physical needs, but to sustain us to continue glorifying God. Receiving the miracle that happens at every mass doesn’t only comfort us temporarily, but suffices our desire to have that joy and eternal happiness to rest on the heart of Christ our Savior.
Third, it’s a story about God’s unlimited and powerful provision. We must believe that with Him all things are possible because He perfectly knows what we need. Our consideration is to accept our insufficiency apart from God.
In the Christian life, we must humble ourselves to accept our own weakness and powerlessness. We must remember that everything Jesus does takes us to that low place because the low place is where the abundant grace of God starts to manifest.
Jesus would like to remind us that He is actually doing the role of God in the Old Testament when He provides everything for the chosen people. Jesus is doing what God does because there is no one else to do so, especially our need of sustenance for our journey towards eternal life.
In conclusion, Jesus says, “Philip, do you remember how God gave the bread from heaven in the desert? It is a perfect way to test Philip and us. Will you rely on Jesus to trust and have faith in Him? The miracle of the multiplication of bread and fish is indeed an invitation to believe, not to cling to our opinion that it is impossible, but that it gives opportunities to grow and to be nourished by His body and blood. Jesus gives His very own life for all of us. Let us rejoice!
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa