Seventeenth Ordinary

John 6: 8 – 9, 12 – 13

One of the disciples – it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter – said, “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in a bucket for a crowd like this.” … When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted.” They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.

Some food is better eaten the next day. That is why it’s always good to make enough for leftovers. Cold pizza makes a great breakfast for some. Meatloaf is a great middle-of-the-night snack. And that chicken served so formally the first day can become a casserole, soup, sandwich, pasta dish, and so much more in later appearances at the table.

Many miracles occurred with the multiplication of the five barley loaves and the two fish. People ate until they were filled. They shared. There was no pushing or shoving to get to the food. They didn’t eat and run. They listened to Jesus’ message, and they believed.

But most important there were 12 baskets of leftovers, enough for them all to take home a little piece. Perhaps they would share it with someone who couldn’t make the arduous trip up the side of the mountain. Perhaps some put it aside for another day or maybe even kept it as a memento of a day when something very special happened. How sweet it would taste!

But we cannot forget what else they all took home. They were filled with the Word of God, a life-giving message of faith, food for their souls. And when they were depressed, when fear struck them in the middle of the night, when they felt all alone and unloved, they would remember how they were fed with Jesus’ words.