Traditional Catholic Teaching - FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT (John 6:1-15)

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT (John 6:1-15)

"Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?" (John 6:5).

A great multitude was following Jesus, because they had seen the miraclcs that He wrought on the sick. These words show us why the Church has selected this Gospel to be read during Lent. This holy season should encourage us to follow Jesus with zeal, to cling to Him without wavering, and to be loyal to Him, always. The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand ought to quicken and strengthen our zeal. The events leading up to this wonderful occurrence were the following: Our Lord had sent out His disciples two and two, that they might preach the Kingdom of Heaven and the coming of the Redeemer. On their return they reported to Him what they had done. About the same time Herod began to be suspicious regarding Jesus, of whose teaching and deeds he had heard. St. Luke says: "Now Herod, the tetrarch, heard of all things that were done by Him, and he was in doubt because it was said by some that John was risen from the dead, and by other some that Elias hath appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets hath arisen. And Herod said: `John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?' and he sought to see Him. And the Apostles, when they were returned, told Him all they had done" (Luke 9:7-10). Our Lord knew well what Herod meant by wanting to see Him, and, to avoid this danger, and also to give His disciples some rest after their journey, He crossed by boat from the west to the east side of the Sea of Galilee, and went into a desert region. The multitude, however, having witnessed His miracles and heard His teaching, watched with dismay the departure of Him whom they revered so much; and sorrowfully looked at the boat that was conveying Him across the lake. In human existence weeping and lamentation are of no use at all, if we do not steadily resolve to acquire that, which we cannot see absent without grief. If these people had stood weeping on the shore, and had gone home despondent, after Jesus had passed out of their sight, their zeal would not have been of the right sort, and would never have enabled them to find Him. Our resolutions are often of this kind; we see that Jesus is no longer beside us ; we are in a state of sin calculated to drive Him still further from us, and our resolutions are nothing but mere wishes to be reunited with Him, mere lamentation over our faults. Because we talk a great deal of Jesus and His love we flatter ourselves that we possess really pious zeal ; but unless we follow the example of the multitude by the Lake of Galilee, our zeal is unprofitable. They looked after Him, not simply mourning His departure, but in order to see in what direction He was going. Having watched the boat start, they guessed where He would land, and then they made haste to go round the lake. Thus they set us a good example of zeal for Jesus. We ought first to ask: "Where is He? where shall we find Him, in what good work? in what act of self-denial?" And when once we know where He is, in this duty or in that action, or that He demands this or that of us, then let us press forward and follow Him. That is not the time to ask whether it is convenient to us or not whether it is easy or difficult, our business is to overtake Him. The multitudes of old forgot the necessaries of life in their anxiety to be with Him; and we, too, ought to set aside all earthly advantages, all worldly considerations, if it is a question of being near Him, of clinging to Him and of being faithful. This is true zeal for Jesus Christ, and if we possess it we may be sure that He will never for sake us, but will care for us tenderly.

He cares for those who trust Him. What a consoling truth! How plainly is it revealed to us in to-day's Gospel ! And yet experience often seems to point the other way, and those who trust Him appear to be forsaken. But did not the poor, hungry people seem forsaken? Did not our Lord Himself appear to be somewhat embarrassed about them? "Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?" Neither Jesus nor His Apostles had money enough to buy bread for so many. This is plain from St. Philip's answer: "Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little." And even if the necessary money had beern forthcotning, there was not so much bread available, there was only a boy with five barley loaves and two fishes for sale, so that in addition to the want of money, it would have been impossible to buy enough bread. Jesus, instead of consoling the hungry multitude that had followed Him so faithfully, seemed to deprive them of their last hope by acknowledging their pitiful plight, and saying "Whence shall we buy bread?" Yet He allowed them to realize their helpless condition so thoroughly only that they might be more firmly convinced by the miracle that He was on the point of working. They were to seem forsaken, in order that His love and power might be revealed more gloriously.

It is often thus in the various difficulties and misfortunes of life. So many obstacles and trials present themselves that a man seems hopelessly lost. In many cases he has neither money nor bread, or, in other words, he has no prospect of help; in fact it appears impossible for him to escape from his difficulties and troubles. More over, it frequently happens that external misfortunes are accompanied by inward desolation; Jesus seems to have forsaken him. Yet this intense sense of helplessness in many cases is the precursor of wonderful help. Just when all seems lost, our Lord's voice rings out unexpectedly : "Sit down, ye who are weighed down by misery," -and He comes to give them strength and power. Jesus said: "Make the men sit down," and there was much grass in the place. We often hear that many who are faithful to Him die in misery without ever experiencing His wonderful help. Has He, therefore, really forsaken them? Is earthly happiness the highest form of happiness? The place where the weary multitude sat down reminds us of that far more glorious abode where those who follow Jesus loyally will some day have their rest. Is earthly misery the most intense that can befall us? Do our Lord's promises all apply to this world? Those crowds of Jews, eager for knowledge, sat on the grass, whilst He stood before them as their Provider, from whom they received food and nourishment. How vividly does this scene represent the glorious future, when all the elect, gathered together as one great family, will rest round Jesus in His Kingdom, receiving from Him the bread of everlasting life and unending happiness. Then all will be made good, then He will repay us with unspeakable bliss for all that we have suffered for His sake. Therefore let us often renew our resolution to seek Him with holy zeal, and to be faithful to Him until the end; then we shall often experience His wonderful help even in this world, and when in His incomprehensible wisdom He sees fit to withdraw this help, we ought to know that our souls, now hungering after righteousness and thirsting after rest and consolation, will be crowned with all joy in His eternal Kingdom. Amen.

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