Friday of the Second Week of Easter
Bread To Share - The Eucharist
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
A sign worked by Jesus and told much in detail by all the evangelists is the multiplication of the bread. In all the Gospels, it is a sign of Jesus’ sharing himself, and even more so, a figure of Jesus’ continuing self-gift in the Eucharist. What about the disciple? Let us not forget that the Eucharist is also the sign and the prefiguration, the token of Jesus’ total self-giving on the cross.
Opening Prayer
Lord, our God,
your Son, Jesus, fed
those who followed him in the desert
and they received as much as they wanted.
May we know and be convinced
that he can fill our own emptiness
not just with gifts
that fill our need of the moment,
but with himself,
and may we accept him eagerly,
for he is our Lord for ever.
First Reading
But one of them, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law highly respected by the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin. He ordered the men to be taken outside for a few minutes
and then he spoke to the assembly:“Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you plan to do to these men.
For some time ago, Theudas appeared claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him. However, he was killed, and all his followers were scattered or disappeared.
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared during the census and convinced many to follow him. But he also perished, and his entire group was broken up.
So, in this case, I advise you not to interfere with these men. Leave them alone. If their movement is human-made, it will fall apart on its own.
But if it is from God, you cannot stop it, and you may even find yourselves fighting against God.
”The Council was persuaded by him.
They summoned the apostles, had them whipped, and ordered them not to speak again of Jesus, the Savior. Then they released them.
The apostles left the Council rejoicing because they were deemed worthy to suffer shame for the sake of the Name.
Day after day, both in the temple and in people’s homes, they kept teaching and proclaiming that Jesus was the Messiah.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 4abc) One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
After this, Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias
and large crowds followed him because of the signs they saw when he healed the sick.
He went up on the mountain and sat down there with his disciples.
The Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
Then, lifting his eyes, Jesus saw the crowds coming toward him and asked Philip:
“Where shall we buy bread so that these people may eat?”
He said this to test Philip, because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him:
“Two hundred silver coins wouldn’t buy enough bread for each of them to have a piece.”
One of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said:
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”
Jesus said:
“Make the people sit down.”
There was plenty of grass there, so they sat down, about five thousand in all.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish, giving them as much as they wanted.
When they had eaten enough, he told his disciples:
“Gather up the pieces left over, that nothing may be lost.”
So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with bread, that is, with pieces of the five barley loaves leftover from those who had eaten.
When the people saw the sign Jesus had performed, they said:
“This is really the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”
Jesus realized they would come and force him to be king, so he went to the mountain alone.
Prayers of the Faithful
– For those who left the Church or have not yet found it, that the witnessing of our evangelical living may be the food that nourishes their hunger for God, we pray:
– For people who have enough to eat, that they be concerned to bring to those in need the food of their help, love and justice, we pray:
– For those who participate regularly in the Eucharist, that they may also learn and relish the food of your word, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God,
your Son Jesus, shares himself again
in these signs of bread and wine.
May he make us to our neighbor
the bread of encouragement and justice
and the drink of joy and peace.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
you let your Son stay with us in the Eucharist
so as to live more among us
in everyday life.
Accept our thanks
and let him continue to be our strength
on the road of life
until we reach with him,
the house of you, our God and Father,
and live in your joy forever.
Blessing
We believe in Jesus, our Risen Lord. He nourishes us with his Word of life; may it be Good News which we want to experience and practice. He nourishes us with his bread of life. May it prompt you to bring love and serving help to anyone in need, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTION:
John 6:1-15
Your offering is never too late
While describing the scene of Jesus feeding the multitude, John presents the contrasting characters of Andrew and Philip. Philip believed that the situation was hopeless; nothing could be done. Andrew, on the other hand, thought of doing what he could and leaving the rest to Jesus. Thus, he brings the young boy to Jesus and makes the background work for the miracle to happen. We never know what possibilities we will release when we bring someone to Jesus.
The boy in the scene had nothing much to offer, but in what he had, Jesus found the materials for a miracle. The boy's willingness to provide and not withhold his loaves and fish is the role of the ideal disciple. When one lays oneself at the altar of his or her service, there is no limit to what Christ can do with us and through us. Little is always much in Christ's hands.
John is the only evangelist who notes that the one who has made available the little food he had “was a child” and that his bread was made “of barley” (v. 9). Barley was the food of the poor. The symbolic value of these details is obvious: in the gospel, the child is the model disciple. Those who want to enter the kingdom of heaven must be like little children (Mk 10:15).
The key to the miracle is to put aside our selfishness and overcome greed, “which is the root of every evil” (1 Tim 6:10). When we make all that we have available to our sisters and brothers without reservations, the miracle happens: all are fed to the full and even have leftovers.
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John 6:1-15
Offering, Giving Thanks, and Sharing
Today’s Gospel presents us with the sign of the loaves and fishes, a sign of God's love and providence. John calls the mighty works of the Lord as signs. These days, medical doctors tell us that a fever is not a sickness but a visible sign of something deeper. Therefore, when we read about the signs in the Gospel of John, remember not to get stuck with the signs but to search for their deeper meanings.
In this sign, Jesus performs three key gestures — offering, giving thanks, and sharing — that continue to shape our lives, especially in the celebration of the Eucharist.
First, offering: A boy offers his humble five loaves and two fish. Despite their smallness, this offering becomes the material for a great miracle. In our lives, this gesture reminds us that even what seems insignificant can be used by God to reveal His glory. Just as we offer the bread and wine in the Mass, we too are invited to offer ourselves and our gifts, no matter how small they may seem.
Second, giving thanks: Jesus takes the loaves, gives thanks to God, and distributes them. This gesture teaches us the importance of gratitude. Everything we have is a gift from God, and in the act of thanksgiving, we acknowledge that all good things come from Him. Our feeble love, when offered to God, is transformed into a greater grace, just as the loaves and fish are multiplied to feed the multitude.
Lastly, sharing: In the Eucharist, we come together to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, a sharing that transforms and unites us. Every act of love and giving, when shared in communion, becomes an encounter of grace.
Let us reflect: Do we believe that we have something unique to give? Are we grateful for God’s gifts? Do we share in His love with others? May the Virgin Mary help us to embrace these gestures of offering, thanksgiving, and sharing in every Eucharistic celebration and in our daily lives.