Friday of the Second Week of Easter
Lectionary: 271
Lectionary: 271
A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel,
a teacher of the law, respected by all the people,
stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time,
and said to the Sanhedrin, "Fellow children of Israel,
be careful what you are about to do to these men.
Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important,
and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed,
and all those who were loyal to him
were disbanded and came to nothing.
After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census.
He also drew people after him,
but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered.
So now I tell you,
have nothing to do with these men, and let them go.
For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin,
it will destroy itself.
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them;
you may even find yourselves fighting against God."
They were persuaded by him.
After recalling the Apostles, they had them flogged,
ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus,
and dismissed them.
So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes,
they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus.
a teacher of the law, respected by all the people,
stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time,
and said to the Sanhedrin, "Fellow children of Israel,
be careful what you are about to do to these men.
Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important,
and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed,
and all those who were loyal to him
were disbanded and came to nothing.
After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census.
He also drew people after him,
but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered.
So now I tell you,
have nothing to do with these men, and let them go.
For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin,
it will destroy itself.
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them;
you may even find yourselves fighting against God."
They were persuaded by him.
After recalling the Apostles, they had them flogged,
ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus,
and dismissed them.
So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes,
they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. (see 4abc) One
thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
AlleluiaMT 4:4B
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 6:1-15
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
"Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little."
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people recline."
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
"Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted."
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
"This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
"Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little."
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people recline."
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
"Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted."
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
"This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
Meditation: The miraculous sign of Jesus
Can anything on this earth truly satisfy the deepest
longing and hunger we experience for God? A great multitude had gathered to
hear Jesus, no doubt because they were hungry for the word of life. Jesus'
disciples wanted to send them away at the end of the day because they did not
have the resources to feed them. They even complained how much money it would
take to feed such a large crowd - at least six month's wages! Jesus, the Bread
of Life, took the little they had - five loaves and two fish - and giving
thanks to his heavenly Father, distributed to all until they were satisfied of
their hunger.
Jesus is the true bread from heaven that gives us
abundant life
The people of Israel had been waiting for the prophet whom Moses had promised: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brethren - him shall you heed (Deuteronomy 18:15). The signs which Jesus did, including the miraculous feeding of the five thousand signified that God has indeed sent him as the anointed Prophet and King. Jesus' feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle that is repeated in all four Gospel accounts. What is the significance of this particular miracle? The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude pointed to God's provision of manna in the wilderness for the people of Israel under Moses' leadership (Exodus 16). This daily provision of food in the barren wilderness foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would offer his followers.
The people of Israel had been waiting for the prophet whom Moses had promised: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brethren - him shall you heed (Deuteronomy 18:15). The signs which Jesus did, including the miraculous feeding of the five thousand signified that God has indeed sent him as the anointed Prophet and King. Jesus' feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle that is repeated in all four Gospel accounts. What is the significance of this particular miracle? The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude pointed to God's provision of manna in the wilderness for the people of Israel under Moses' leadership (Exodus 16). This daily provision of food in the barren wilderness foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would offer his followers.
The food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ
Jesus makes a claim which only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience. The sign of the multiplication of the loaves when the Lord says the blessing, breaks, and distributes through his disciples prefigures the superabundance of the unique bread of his Eucharist or Lord's Supper. When we receive from the Lord's table we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ, who makes us sharers in his body and blood. Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 A.D.) calls it the "one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ" (Ad Eph. 20,2). This supernatural food is healing for both body and soul and strength for our journey heavenward.
Jesus makes a claim which only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience. The sign of the multiplication of the loaves when the Lord says the blessing, breaks, and distributes through his disciples prefigures the superabundance of the unique bread of his Eucharist or Lord's Supper. When we receive from the Lord's table we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ, who makes us sharers in his body and blood. Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 A.D.) calls it the "one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ" (Ad Eph. 20,2). This supernatural food is healing for both body and soul and strength for our journey heavenward.
When you approach the Table of the Lord, what do you
expect to receive? Healing, pardon, comfort, and rest for your soul? The Lord
has much more for us, more than we can ask or imagine. The principal fruit of
receiving the Eucharist at the Lord's Table is an intimate union with Jesus
Christ, our Divine Healer and Savior. As bodily nourishment restores lost strength,
so the Eucharist strengthens us in charity and enables us to break with
disordered attachments to creatures and to be more firmly rooted in the love of
Christ. Do you hunger for the "bread of life"?
The Lord alone can satisfy the deepest longing of our
heart
The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves so that we may have something to share with others, especially those who lack what they need. God takes the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do you trust in God's provision for you and do you share freely with others, especially those who are in need?
The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves so that we may have something to share with others, especially those who lack what they need. God takes the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do you trust in God's provision for you and do you share freely with others, especially those who are in need?
"Lord Jesus, you satisfy the deepest longing of
our heart and you feed us with the finest of wheat (Psalm 81:16). Fill me with
gratitude and give me a generous heart that I may freely share with others what
you have given to me."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: God enables us, by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.
"In rendering service to the grace of God, we are
not only made subject to our King through obedience but are even joined to him
through the will. If we are of one mind with him (willing what he wills,
disapproving of what he disapproves), he himself will bring us victory in all
our battles. He who has given the 'will' will bestow also the ability. In this
way can we 'cooperate' with his works, speaking that prophetic utterance in the
exultation of faith: 'The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall
I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?'" (excerpt from Sermon 26,4,2)
FRIDAY, APRIL
28, JOHN 6:1-15
Easter Weekday
(Acts 5:34-42; Psalm 27)
Easter Weekday
(Acts 5:34-42; Psalm 27)
KEY VERSE: "Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining" (v.11).
TO KNOW: All four Gospels recount the miraculous multiplication of loaves to show its Eucharistic importance. In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), Jesus celebrated the Passover as his "Last Supper." His body and blood was offered in the bread and wine as a sacrifice to free us from the bondage of sin. In John's gospel, the multiplication of loaves took place close to the Jewish feast of Passover, a memorial of Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Ex 12:14). In John's version of the multiplication of loaves, Jesus spoke about eating his flesh and drinking his blood (v.53). This is exactly what occurred at the Last Supper. The actions Jesus performed in the wilderness when he "took," "blessed," "broke," and "distributed" the bread, are the same actions the Priest does in the Eucharistic celebration today. The people of Jesus' day recognized the Messianic significance of this banquet, and acclaimed that he was the "one who had come into the world" to bring salvation (v.15).
TO LOVE: Do I appreciate the mystery of Christ's sacrificial love in the Eucharist?
TO SERVE: Risen Lord, help me to grow in love and understanding of you in the Eucharist.
"This miracle of the loaves has three aspects. It is preceded by the search for God, for his word, for the teaching that sets the whole of life on the right path. Furthermore, God is asked to supply the bread. Finally, readiness to share with one another is an essential element of the miracle. Listening to God becomes living with God, and leads from faith to love, to the discovery of the other. Jesus is not indifferent toward people's hunger, their bodily needs, but he places these things in the proper context and the proper order" Pope Benedict XVI
Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Chanel,
priest and martyr
Peter Chanel was born in France and was ordained in 1827 at age 24. He was assigned to Crozet, a parish in decline, and brought a spiritual revival. The reading of letters of missionaries in far-away lands inflamed his heart with zeal, and he resolved to devote his life to the Apostolate. He joined the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers) in 1831. He taught at the Belley seminary for five years, and led a band of missionaries to the New Hebrides in 1836, an area where cannibalism had only recently been outlawed. He learned the local language, and taught in the local school. He converted many, in part because of his ministry to the sick. Peter was killed by order of Niuliki, a native king who was jealous of his influence, Peter Chanel became the first martyr in Oceania.
Friday 28 April 2017
St Peter Chanel. Day of Penance.
Acts 5:34-42. Psalms 26(27):1, 4, 13-14. John 6:1-15.
Acts 5:34-42. Psalms 26(27):1, 4, 13-14. John 6:1-15.
One thing
I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord — Psalms 26(27):1, 4, 13-14.
Where can
we buy enough food for them to eat?’
One of Jesus’ most memorable
miracles unfolded because a generous little boy was willing to share his lunch.
Little did he know that it would become a feast for thousands.
This story in John’s gospel is
given for us. Jesus invites us to see the needs and problems around us, and not
to get overwhelmed or pretend they don’t exist.
He asks us to bring our meagre
offerings, giving thanks to God for them and to share whatever he gives us. We
can be sure that it will be more than enough to fulfil his great plan.
Whenever we bring problems or
needs to the Lord, he calls us to have faith.
The moment we say, ‘It may be
impossible for me, but not for God’, we are opening the door to endless divine
possibilities. Believe! Trust! Who knows how the Lord will multiply the bread
in our hands?
ST. LOUIS-MARIE GRIGNION DE MONTFORT
On
April 28, the universal Church celebrates the feast day of Louis-Marie de
Monfort, a 17th century saint who is revered for his intense devotion to the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
St.
Louis-Marie is perhaps most famously known for his prayer of entrustment to Our
Lady, “Totus Tuus ego sum,” which means, “I am all yours.” The
late-Pope John Paul II took the phrase “Totus Tuus” as his episcopal motto.
Born
in Montfort, Brittany, on January 31, 1673, St. Louis-Marie possessed a strong
devotion to the Blessed Sacrament as a child, and was also intimately
devoted to the Blessed Virgin, especially through the Rosary. He took the name
Marie at his confirmation.
The
saint manifested a love for the poor while he was at school and joined a
society of young men who ministered to the poor and the sick on school
holidays. When he was 19, he walked 130 miles to Paris to study theology, gave
all he had to the poor that he met along the way and made a vow to live only on
alms. After his ordination at 27, he served as a hospital chaplain until the
management of the hospital resented his reorganization of the staff and sent
him away.
St.
Louis-Marie discovered his great gift for preaching at the age of 32, and
committed himself to it for the rest of his life. He met with such great
success that he often drew crowds of thousands to hear his sermons in which he
encouraged frequent communion and devotion to Mary.
But
he also met with opposition, especially from the Jansenists, a heretical
movement within the Church that believed in absolute Predestination, in which
only a chosen few are saved, and the rest damned. Much of France was influenced
by Jansenism, including many bishops, who banished St. Loius-Marie from
preaching in their dioceses. He was even poisoned by Jansenists in La Rochelle,
but survived, though he suffered ill health after.
While
recuperating from the effects of the poisoning, he wrote the masterpiece of
Marian piety, "True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin," which he
correctly prophesied would be hidden by the devil for a time. His seminal work
was discovered 200 years after his death.
One year before he died,
St. Louis-Marie founded two congregations: the Daughters of Divine Wisdom –
which tended to the sick in hospitals and the education of poor girls, and the
Company of Mary, missionaries devoted to preaching and to spreading devotion to
Mary.
LECTIO DIVINA: JOHN 6,1-15
Lectio Divina:
Friday, April 28, 2017
Easter Time
1) OPENING PRAYER
Lord our God,
your Son Jesus fed
those who followed him in the desert
and they received as much as they wanted.May we know and be convinced
that he can fill our own emptiness
not just with gifts
that fill our need of the moment
but with himself,
and may we accept him eagerly,
for he is our Lord for ever.
your Son Jesus fed
those who followed him in the desert
and they received as much as they wanted.May we know and be convinced
that he can fill our own emptiness
not just with gifts
that fill our need of the moment
but with himself,
and may we accept him eagerly,
for he is our Lord for ever.
2) GOSPEL READING - JOHN
6,1-15
After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of
Galilee - or of Tiberias - and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the
signs he had done in curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside and sat down
there with his disciples.
The time of the Jewish Passover was
near. Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, 'Where
can we buy some bread for these people to eat?' He said this only to put Philip
to the test; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered,
'Two hundred denarii would not buy enough to give them a little piece each.'
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said, 'Here is a small boy
with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that among so many?' Jesus
said to them, 'Make the people sit down.' There was plenty of grass there, and
as many as five thousand men sat down.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were sitting there; he then did the same with
the fish, distributing as much as they wanted. When they had eaten enough he
said to the disciples, 'Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing is
wasted.' So they picked them up and filled twelve large baskets with scraps
left over from the meal of five barley loaves.
Seeing the sign that he had done, the
people said, 'This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.' Jesus,
as he realised they were about to come and take him by force and make him king,
fled back to the hills alone.
3) REFLECTION
• The reading of the IV Chapter of John
begins today which places before us two signs or miracles: the multiplication
of the loaves (Jn 6, 1-15) and walking on the water (Jn 6, 16-21).Then the long
dialogue on the Bread of Life is mentioned (Jn 6, 22-71). John places this fact
close to the feast of the Passover (Jn 6, 4). The central approach is the
confrontation between the old Passover of the Exodus and the new Passover which
takes place in Jesus. The dialogue on the bread of life will clarify the new
Passover which takes place in Jesus.
• John 6, 1-4: The situation. In the
ancient Passover, the multitude crossed the Red Sea. In the new Passover, Jesus
crosses the Sea of Galilee. A great crowd follows Moses. A great crowd follows
Jesus in this new exodus. In the first exodus, Moses goes up to the Mountain.
Jesus, the new Moses, also goes up to the mountain. The crowds followed Moses
who presents great signs. The crowds follow Jesus because they had seen the
signs that he worked in favour of the sick.
• John 6, 5-7: Jesus and Philip. Seeing
the multitude, Jesus confronts the disciples with the hunger of the people and
asks Philip: “Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?” In the
first exodus, Moses had obtained food for the hungry people. Jesus, the new
Moses, will do the same thing. But Philip, instead of looking at the situation
in the light of the Scripture, he looked at it according to the system and
replies: “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough!” One denarius was the
minimum salary for one day. Philip is aware of the problem and recognizes his
total incapacity to solve it. He complains, but presents no solution.
• John 6, 8-9: Andrew and the boy.
Andrew, instead of complaining, seeks a solution. He finds a boy who has five
loaves of bread and two fish: Five barley loaves and two fish were the daily
ration of the meal of the poor. The boy hands over his daily ration of food! He
could have said: “Five loaves of bread and two fish, what is this for all these
people? It will serve nothing! Let us divide all this among ourselves, between
two or three persons”, but instead, he has the courage to give the five loaves
of bread and the two fish to feed 5000 persons (Jn 6, 10! One who does this,
either he is a fool or has much faith, believing that out of love for Jesus,
all are ready to divide their food as the boy did!
• John 6, 10-11: The multiplication.
Jesus asks the people to sit down on the ground. Then he multiplies the food,
the ration of the poor. The text says: “Then Jesus took the loaves, gave
thanks, and distributed them to those who were sitting there; he then did the
same with the fish, distributing as much as they wanted”. With this phrase,
written in the year 100 after Christ, John recalls the gesture of the Last
Supper (I Co 11, 23-24). The Eucharist, when it is celebrated as it should be,
will lead the persons to share as it impelled the boy to give all his ration of
food to be shared.
• John 6, 12-13: The twelve baskets of
what was left over. Number twelve evokes the totality of the people with their
twelve tribes. John does not say if fish were also left over. He is interested
in recalling the bread as a symbol of the Eucharist. The Gospel of John does
not have the description of the Eucharistic Supper, but describes the multiplication
of the loaves, symbol of what would happen in the communities through the
celebration of the Eucharistic Supper. If among the Christian people there was
a true and proper sharing, there would be abundant food and twelve baskets
would be left over for many other people!
• John 6, 14-15: They want to make him
king. The people interpret the gesture of Jesus saying: “This is indeed the
prophet who is to come into the world!” The peoples’ intuition is just. Jesus
in fact, is the new Moses, the Messiah, the one whom the people were expecting
(Dt 18, 15-19). But this intuition had been deviated by the ideology of the
time which wanted a great king who would be strong and a dominator. This is
why, seeing the sign, the people proclaim Jesus the Messiah and ask to make him
King! Jesus perceived what could happen, and he withdraws and goes to the
mountain alone. He does not accept this way of being Messiah and waits for the
opportune moment to help the people to advance a step farther.
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• In the face of the problem of hunger
in the world, do you act as Philip, as Andrew or like the boy?
• The people wanted a Messiah who would
be a strong and powerful king. Today, many follow populist leaders. What does
today’s Gospel tell us about this?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
Yahweh is my light and my salvation,
whom should I fear?
Yahweh is the fortress of my life,
whom should I dread? (Ps 27,1)
whom should I fear?
Yahweh is the fortress of my life,
whom should I dread? (Ps 27,1)
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