Friday of the
Second Week of Easter
(Acts 5:34-42; John 6:1-15)
Pope Francis has criticized the “culture of waste” found
in both rich and poor countries. He has called the way many people throw food
away like “stealing from the table of the poor and hungry.” There are hundreds of millions of people who
are undernourished while the rich and middle classes and often poorer people are
growing obese. Not only is the situation
ironic and scandalous, it also blinds one to Jesus’ work in the gospel.
Jesus producing a superabundance of food cannot be
appreciated outside a culture where it is in short supply. In first century Palestine yields were a
fraction of modern production and storage from pests a perennial problem. In today’s passage, however, Jesus takes just
enough food for a small family, multiplies it, feeds a crowd of well over five
thousand, and finds enough bread for a feast remaining. John the evangelist is showing why Jesus is the
Son of God destined to rise from the dead.
He pictures him here as a new Moses with many elements of the Exodus
saga: mention of a sea and of the Passover feast, going up a mountain, and of
course feeding legions with bread from heaven.
The people in John’s story understand Jesus to the fulfillment of Moses’
prophecy: “I will raise up for them a prophet like
you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will
tell them everything I command him” (Deuteronomy 18:18).
Following Jesus, we heed his command to care for the poor
and needy. In this way, we look forward to his leading us beyond the enticements
of this world to a realm of everlasting love.
This is the fulfilment of his Easter promise. Death itself will not hinder us from reaching
our deepest yearning for happiness.
