Acts 5:34-42 /
John 6:1-15
Jesus feeds 5,000
people: He multiplied five loaves.
Almost a century ago, two men were on a train in
France.
The older man was reading the Bible story of the multiplication
of the loaves. Noticing this, the younger man said, “Pardon me, sir, but do you
really believe what you’re reading?” “Yes,” said the older man, “don’t you
believe it?”
“No,” said the younger man. “I’m a scientist, and that
story goes against all scientific laws.” At this point the train slowed down. “This
is my station,” said the young man. “Nice talking to you, Mr....”
“Pasteur,” said the older man, “Louis Pasteur.”
He was one of the world’s greatest scientists.
****
How do we handle faith questions when they seem to
conflict with science? “A little science and faith is far; A lot of science and
faith is near.” Anonymous
****
In
its 2000 over years of existence, the Church had undergone many trials and
tribulations. When the Church was split into the Eastern and Western Church in
1054, people thought it was the end of Christianity. During the 16th century
when the Church was corroding from corruption and immoral practices, and when
the Protestant Reformation came along, people thought it was the end of the
Church.
In
this present time, we hear of the terrible scandals in the Church, and we begin
to get shaken. We wonder what has become of the Church and what is the Church
all about? Yet, we cannot negate the fact that the Church is divine as well as
human.
As
Gamaliel puts it in the 1st reading - if this is of human origin, it will break
up of its own accord. We are crushed and confused by the scandals of the
Church.
Yet,
we still have the mission of feeding those who still hold on to their belief in
God and in the Church. God has given us the five loaves and two fish. We cannot
just sit there and rot with it. With the grace of God, we must rise and embark
on the mission of feeding and healing those whose faith was shaken and shattered
by the scandals.
We only need to
entrust ourselves into the hands of God who is merciful and compassionate.
****
Easter 2nd Week – Friday - Liturgy
Introduction
A sign worked by Jesus and told in
much 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.
Penitential
Rite:
-If their project or activity is of human
origin, it will destroy itself; as we found our life on God’s word
-If it is from God, you will not be able to
destroy it and you may indeed find yourselves fighting against God."; as
we come to entrust our lives in your hands
-Day after day, both in the Temple and in
people's homes, they continued to teach and to proclaim that Jesus was the
Messiah; as you strengthen us to teach and preach your word
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 forever.
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 all the 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.
