Gospel: John 6:1-15
At that time, Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, to Tiberias, and a large crowd was following him because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. The Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a little.” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two fish, but how far will that go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. Seeing the sign Jesus performed, the people began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain alone.

Fruit: Contemplate in this passage the unhurried love of Jesus Christ.

Guidelines for reflection:
Jesus makes use of the generosity of a boy who did not have many loaves or fish, nor many material goods, but had a great desire to help. From him, help was given to satisfy a multitude.

1. The unhurried man
Jesus’ work is inexhaustible. He is constantly preaching and doing good, whether to his apostles, small groups, or large crowds. The Gospel we are considering shows us another example of this apostolic and pastoral work: a great multitude is coming toward him, and he begins to preach to them with love, without rushing. The Christian life is well lived when we love God and others without haste, giving them generously the time they deserve. What do I want my time for, if not to do something lasting, worthwhile, something for eternity?

2. With feet on the ground
Jesus teaches us the wonders of God’s love, but he does not live absorbed in an ideal world of beautiful ideas, good wishes, and noble feelings. Jesus lives with his gaze on heaven, on great ideals, but at the same time, he has his feet on the ground. He realizes that those who listen to him also need to eat. “Man shall not live on bread alone,” he had replied to the devil who tempted him to turn stones into bread and satisfy his own appetite. “Man shall not live on bread alone, but also on bread.” Therefore, Jesus performs the miracle of the multiplication of loaves.

3. Christ needs me to perform the miracle
There is a very beautiful detail in this passage: Jesus Christ could have made the bread appear for this multitude in such a way that no one had to distribute it. However, he wants to feel the need for the apostles, and he says to them: “You give them something to eat; distribute the bread yourselves, and thus collaborate in the miracle.” Such is Jesus Christ: he has the power to perform great miracles, to change people’s hearts with direct, special grace. But he usually does not act this way. He wants us to collaborate with Him in the work of redemption, and he asks each of us: “You give them something to eat; help me save humanity, by saving the person next to you, your spouse, your father or mother, your coworker or classmate, that friend who needs it so much.”

Purpose: I will dedicate time to spend with the friend who needs companionship the most.