During the next five
Sundays, the gospel readings will be taken from the sixth chapter of the Gospel
of John, the great and beautiful discourse
on the Bread of Life. We will hear the multiplication of the loaves and
fishes, and you know, there is a lot more
to this miracle than food for dinner. On a deeper scale, the miracle is sharing in the Lord of all that He is. It
is a miracle of being filled with the food the Lord gives, himself[1].
Few years ago
the Zeferrelli's film Jesus of Nazareth
united Mary Magdalene with the miracle of the loaves and fishes. For one
instant the camera focused on Mary Magdalene holding the bread that Christ
gives in her hand and looking at Jesus. The continual gift of the Lord led Mary
Magdalene to conversion. Holding the bread and looking at the Lord she realizes
that He alone satisfies her needs. As
the hymn prays, He satisfies the hungry
heart[2].
There are five
thousand men, not counting women and children, and only five loaves of bread
available. When the disciples ask what they should do, Jesus tells them that
the bread he will give them will be enough: the miracle of the loaves and fish
is a miracle also of our sharing the
gifts of Christ. He gives us plenty for all that we are called upon to feed. Our
union with him satisfies the hungry hearts of our families, our neighbors, and
our world.
Sometimes we
question whether or not we can be the spiritual leaders the Lord calls on us to
be: Am I good enough as a priest to give you all you need? How can I? There are
so many of you and just one of me? But it is not my bread that I have been
called upon to give you; it is the bread the Lord gives me for you. And that is
always enough, despite my human limitations.
Perhaps you have
asked yourselves. Am I good enough to be a spiritual leader in my house? Can I
bring my wife, my husband, and my children to God? Perhaps some of you might
say, "I'm not that spiritual. I'm inclined to sin. I can't give my
children what they need to become good Christians." Well, these thoughts
are incorrect, for the bread you need to feed your family, the presence of
Christ in your home is enough for you. Through your union with Christ, through your sacraments Jesus provides all you need. And the presence of
the Lord you cultivate in that bread basket never runs out. So, there is plenty
of food, plenty of Christ for the family. There is plenty of bread in the
basket when the bread comes from the Lord.
We have to stay
united to the Lord. His bread, which might appear little in your eyes and my
eyes, a mere five barley loaves, is plenty for thousands of people.
Your homes are
churches. Your families are united in the Lord. Your union with God as a family
gives meaning and direction to your lives. Never, never feel that you are not
good enough to be spiritual leaders, particularly of your children. Husbands do not feel that you cannot be a
source of God's love for your wives. Wives do not feel that you cannot be a
source of God's love for your husbands. United in the Lord, he multiplies
the love that is his presence in an infinite manner. He satisfies the hungry
hearts.
We need to nourish
the presence of the Lord. You are doing that right now, by attending Mass and
receiving the Body of Christ in the Eucharist. We need to worship the Lord
together in our homes, the little churches. Perhaps, you should consider
praying together in your homes if you are not already doing this. Before meals
and at bedtimes is an excellent opportunity for families to get in the habit of
daily prayer. Pray to God together to keep you family strong as a family and
strong in his love, the same thing. In your homes celebrate your union as a
family. And never feel that anything you do is insignificant. Wonderful things
can happen with just five barley loaves when the bread comes from the Lord ■
[1] Sunday 29th July, 2012, 17th
Sunday in Ordinary Time. Readings: 2 Kings 4:42–44. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs—Ps
144(145):10–11, 15–18. Ephesians 4:1–6. John 6:1–15 [St Martha].
