“Sharing our Gifts in the Spirit of Christ.”  Beloved, God has gifted us in different ways (cf. 1Cor 12:8-11; 1Pet 4:10-11) and called us to share with others.  Please, this is not socialism; it is FAITH IN ACTION (cf. Matt 6:10). Christ never advocated for any worldly system of government: capitalism, feudalism, socialism or communism; He simply called us to live as people of faith in imitation of Him: “My kingship is not of this world” (John 18:36).  For “The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt 20:28; Mark 10:45).  Herein lies the REAL MEANING of the “washing of feet” of God’s people (cf. John 13:3-5, 12-17).  It is about using our material and spiritual gifts to care for the hungry, the lonely, the less privileged, the homeless, the poor immigrant, the jobless, the sick and the imprisoned, for the legal protection of unborn children! (cf. Matt 25:34-40) and for promoting the faith (cf. Acts 1:8).

In our First Reading (2 Kgs 4:42-44), Prophet Elisha used his material gift (twenty loaves of bread) and his spiritual gift – a double portion of the spirit in Elijah – (cf. 2Kgs 2:9-14) to show concern to his followers.  Though the twenty loaves of bread were woefully insufficient for his followers, one hundred men, he told his servant, “Give it to the people to eat.”  Wow!  Many times, we feel we must have the whole world before we can share.  God is asking us to do something, however inadequate or insignificant; then leave the rest to God.  Elisha’s servant retorted, “How can I set this before a hundred people?”  It did not make sense to him.  But our faith does not have to make sense (cf. Heb 11:1); we do not need to have all the answers before we can offer to help; we must always trust in Divine Providence (cf. Rom 1:17).  In the end, they all ate and had left overs as Elisha had foretold.  God does not fail.

Likewise, in the Gospel Passage (John 6:1-15), Jesus manifested concern for others.  Seeing about 5000 people following Him for too long and had not eaten, He asked: “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”  Philip replied, “Two hundred days’ wages [that is, almost one year’s salary] worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.”  But, for Jesus, doing nothing was not an option!  They notified Him, “There [are]… five barley loaves and two fish; but what good these are for so many?”  In faith, He told them, “Distribute them to those who were reclining.”  Wow!  Five loaves and two fish for five thousand people?  Surely, our faith makes sense because God is trustworthy; however, faith does not have to make sense (cf. Heb 11:1). When the Apostles obeyed and distributed it, God reenacted the miracle of superabundance.  The people ate and had leftovers.  What a lesson for us!  Clearly, God expects us to share even the little we have (cf. 1Kgs 17:12-18; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4); and yes, even with little faith (cf. Luke 17:5-6).

Notice, Jesus told His disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”  They collected them and filled twelve baskets.  What a subtle caution against our culture of waste!  Often, while being selfish with sharing our gifts and endowments, we have no problem wasting it and telling others, “I made it on my own; you should make it on your own.”  Oh-oh! (cf. 1Cor 4:7; Eph 2:8-9).  We waste food, clothes, shoes, appliances, etc. Please, what is trash to you might be treasure to another.  Just imagine all the unused items in our houses, garages or in storage; things we might never ever use again.  Share in faith, hope and love! (cf. John 13:35).

On the whole, the miracle of the loaves is not just about attending to material preoccupations; it is more about sharing our SPIRITUAL GIFTS.  It was a pointer to Christ, the “Bread of Life” (John 6:22-27).  Consequently, when the crowd tried to crown Jesus king purely on “material” grounds, that He multiplied bread for them (cf. Phil 3:18); He rejected the offer.  Later, when the crowd came longing for more material gratification, Christ insisted on offering them the Bread of Life; His Body and Blood instead (cf. John 6:27).  Herein lies the Kinship Jesus welcomes (cf. John 12:23-33).  What a blessing to be Catholic Christians!  Finally, St. Paul urges us in our Second Reading (Eph 4:1-6) to live in a manner worthy of our Christian calling, with humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, love and peace; in “one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”  What a wake-up call for all Christians about the will of Christ for unity (cf. Matt 12:30; John 10:16; 17:11-12, 20-21) and not selfishly using our gifts for dividing the Church (cf. 1Cor 12:4-7; 14:12; 2Cor 13:10; Eph 4:11-13).  May God inspire us to always share with others, prioritize our spiritual intimacy with God in the Holy Eucharist, be of one mind and heart and win salvation, through Christ our Lord.  Amen.