for April 24
Friday of the Second Week of Easter

Earlier this week I was walking in downtown Philadelphia and a man approached me and surprised me by something he said directly to me. His words to me came entirely out of the blue. He said to me, “why won’t they feed me?” I was not sure how to respond. We shared a brief conversation. It was difficult to grasp what he was trying to say as he was quite disoriented. He appeared to be a homeless man in the city. One thing was clear—he was hungry. I remember him in light of today’s reading from the Gospel of John.

The feeding of the five thousand in the multiplication of the loaves is the only miracle story in Jesus’ ministry told in all four of the gospels. I especially notice two things in the story. First, Jesus expressed deep concern for the real physical needs of the people and he wants to do something about it. Second, the abundance that comes forth in the miracle is striking. Those present had their fill and there was much leftover to be gathered up. Jesus feeds a vast crowd and the language of the Eucharist is present. The background is the time of Passover. There are clear references back to Moses and the manna in the desert in the Exodus story.

The distribution of the loaves shows the structure of a Eucharistic celebration even while it is difficult to grasp the specific connections with what we know to be the sacred meal in the early Christian communities. I am drawn in by this language especially as we now in this time of pandemic are unable to gather as usual to share the Eucharist. Somehow for me this story takes on new meaning at this particular time for us in the world. We are not able to gather now in the traditional ways but the Lord still feeds us. This is one way that my imagination engages with this story. Here John’s account uses the Greek word eucharistein as Jesus gives thanks and distributes the loaves. There are many possible meanings and interpretations here. Scripture scholar Raymond Brown observed that “the eucharistic coloring” of this miracle account in John seems beyond doubt. But it is not easy to precisely determine the specific meanings in this Gospel’s rich symbolic narrative. Also striking is Jesus’ question to Philip in an appeal to his faith—even while Philip is focused on and worried about costs, supplies, and the large size of the crowd.

There is good cause for us also to be worried about many things these days. Strikingly, the scriptures tell us how God cared for the servants he called. In today’s reading from Acts the Apostles are literally on trial, before the Sanhedrin which was the supreme council of the Jewish people. This religious body had far reaching authority over Jewish communities. This passage tells the story of the second trial before this council. This fact for them must have caused worry and concern. Being in a court room facing a trial is never an easy thing. It is significant that we learn that the Apostles are led and strengthened by God’s Spirit which enables them to carry on.

The experiences of loss and “too much death and illness” bring us legitimate worry, concern, and an enduring sadness. Empty grocery store shelves, volatile financial markets, and necessary isolation from one another can also do the same. Yet the scriptures today tell us that the hungry are abundantly fed and those facing trial and struggle are preserved and strengthened. The scriptures appeal to our faith even as a long dark veil covers much of our present. Worry and despair may be valid responses from us. But in this darkness we are called forward in expectation and hope in what the Lord continues to do for us now and into the future. Who will feed us? The Lord has and will. There is abundance in the riches of the Risen Christ for us this Easter season.  
—Francis T. Hannafey SJ

Today’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops website.