Sunday Homily, July 26, 2015, 17th Ordinary Time, B
Readings:
2 Kings 4, 42-44, “They not only ate, but had leftovers.”
Psalm 145, The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Ephesians 4, 1-6, “Pour yourselves out in acts of love; and be quick to mend fences.”
Alleluia – “A great prophet has risen in our midst.”
John 6:1-15 (also in Matt 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17) – “Jesus took the bread, and having given thanks, gave it to them.”
Genevieve says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome."
Introduction to the readings:
The Jewish people wanted to have a king like other nations had. Wasn’t God’s idea; the people kept demanding a king; he let them have a king. The idea was that the kings, starting with Solomon, would represent the sovereignty of God by being good kings.
For 500 years there were 40 or so kings, and of course they were mostly rather pitiful, a few were pretty good. Today’s reading is from the second book of kings, so during the time when kings ruled the Jewish people, starting with Saul about 1000 years before Jesus, and ending about 500 years later with the Babylonian captivity (555).
Leo & Shonda, too, say, "Good Morning, Folks, Welcome."
There were prophets and holy men before there were kings. They are the ones who kept tabs on the kings and represented God’s take on issues.
Today’s reading introduces Elisha, a holy man respected by Joram, king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. This little story of Elisha feeding a crowd of 100 with 20 loaves of bread was chosen to connect with the story of the multiplication of loaves in the today’s Gospel story. And the letter to the Ephesians teaches what sharing in the meal should signify and bring about in one’s behavior.
Emma, too, says that she and her buddy welcome everyone.
HOMILY:
We have heard many times the reading about the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the fish. This is the only miracle story repeated in all four Gospels.
How appropriate that feeding those needing food was the best miracle story known; it could be told today with equal impact. I forget the stats, but it’s millions of people, including children, who are hungry every day and without food (who knows the number or percent).
Harper says she thinks it is fun being here.
Also in each of these four repetitions of the story, there is a formula or ritual stated: “Jesus raised his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to his disciples.”
So first, the story is a story about Jesus performing a miracle, which is how writers in those days made someone ‘famously big’ or a ‘god to be reckoned with’.
Secondly, this story was well known, since all four Gospel writers or compilers used it.
And thirdly, one line in the story became part of the shared meal starting with early Christians all the way down to today.
Victoria having just too much fun with her mom.
The reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, liturgically, seems to teach what flows from sharing in this ritual meal. And his answer is unity, recognizing that we are called to be one body, united in love. Paul describes our call from God as pouring yourself out for each other in acts of love, accepting other’s differences and being quick to forgive.
Three questions to mull over:
In your family (at home, here, friends group) how do you see acts of love being shared, and differences accepted?
How quick are you to mend fences and forgive one another?
Do you make the connection between sharing bread here at Mass, and experiencing connection and oneness with others in your everyday life?
Genevieve, who has learned already from previous Sundays how to turn it off, says, "Wake me up when the fun begins."