Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks...

In this first episode of John 6, Jesus sees the hungry multitude in front of him and challenges his disciples, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” (v 5).

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Philip’s retort is simply to point out the impossibility of the situation.

Andrew, instead, sees a potential solution but expresses his doubt as well: “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” (v 9).

What is Jesus’ reply to all these? He takes the loaves and the fish and gives thanks and distributes them to all who are present. Jesus gives thanks for the blessing at hand, and the miracle flows from here.

It is from a grateful heart that God’s gifts gush forth. To be thankful is to acknowledge the giver of the gift and to know that he himself will find a way to respond to the need at hand. That is why John’s Gospel uses this episode of the multiplication of the loaves as his springboard for the eucharistic discourse. Eucharist means “thanksgiving.”

The Lord Jesus gives thanks in every Eucharist that we celebrate. Let us ask him to teach us to have grateful hearts.

First Reading - Acts 5:34-42