Daily Readings - Sun Jul 25 2021
2 Kings
42A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. "Give it to the people to eat," Elisha said.43"How can I set this before a hundred men?" his servant asked. But Elisha answered, "Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the LORD says: 'They will eat and have some left over.'"44Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.
Ephesians
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.4There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
John
1Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),2and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick.3Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.4The Jewish Passover Feast was near.5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.7Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"8Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up,9"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"10Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them.11Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.14After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust in God's providence and the importance of unity in our communities. In the First Reading, Elisha, with unwavering faith, instructs his servant to feed a multitude with a seemingly insufficient supply of bread. Through obedience and trust, God's abundance is revealed, leaving plenty remaining. This miracle prefigures the Gospel, where Jesus feeds the 5000 with just five loaves and two fish, demonstrating His divine power and care for His people. Both stories highlight the transformative power of faith and trust in God's plan.
The Second Reading from Ephesians emphasizes the unity of the Spirit, urging believers to live humbly, patiently, and charitably, preserving the oneness that binds us. This unity is mirrored in the Gospel as the crowd comes together, united by their need and faith in Jesus. The leftovers from the feeding symbolize God's overflowing grace, reminding us that our efforts, though small, can yield abundant results when surrendered to Him.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's provision, even when resources seem scarce, and to strive for unity in our communities. Just as the boy's humble offering became the source of abundance, our small acts of faith and love can have a profound impact. Let us embrace humility, patience, and charity, allowing God to work through us and bring people together in His name. Through faith and unity, we experience the richness of God's love and provision.