July 26, 2009 17th Ordinary Sunday of the Year 2 Kgs. 4:42-44; Eph. 4:1-6; Jn. 6:1-15 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Readings:  http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/072609.shtml                 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________     There is much hunger in the world today. Millions of people go to sleep with empty stomachs. Children are bloated from malnutrition. Wars are fought over food, and people starve as a consequence of war. Where are such needy people to turn for help? The specific focus this Sunday is on the generous power of God that mysteriously meets basic human needs.   Not only are they hungry; the food supply is limited, and there does not appear to be enough to satisfy the hunger of all. Obviously, some will be sent away with little or nothing. Then, in the midst of this need, something extraordinary happens. Not only is food provided, but more is available than is required. How did this happen? What are we to make of it?   Acting through the prophet Elisha, God fed about 100 people with 20 barley loaves. Jesus fed five thousand with five barley loaves and two fish. In each case, the people were satisfied, and food was left over.   We may not be able to explain the miracles, but we cannot overlook one very important element in each story — God works marvels through ordinary people. God meets the needs of people through the services provided by members of the community.   Paul sketches the profile of such a caring community. The members are humble and gentle and patient; they belong to the one body and share the same Spirit. We are the community that he describes. We are the ones called to feed the hungry today. We cannot allow empty stomachs to cry out in hunger, or children to be bloated. We can no longer fight over food or allow the war-torn to starve. As members of the body of Christ, we are diminished whenever another goes hungry. But miracles can unfold through the workings of our own hands, when we distribute the food destined for all by our generous God.   The accounts of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes offer ample material for reflection and prayer. Jesus meets that most basic human need, hunger, and does so with compassion. God intends for each of us to be filled to overflowing with what we really need most, love and a sense of purpose, so much so that we cannot help but share it with each other.     <<   Previous: 16th Sunday of the year  |   Next: 18th Sunday of the Year >>     Go Back to SERMONS (Year B)