First Reading (Acts 5,34-42)
Reading of the Acts of the Apostles.
In those days, a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the Sanhedrin. He was a master of the Law and all the people esteemed him. Gamaliel ordered the accused to leave for a moment.
Then he said: “Men of Israel, consider what you are about to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, pretending to be an important person, and about four hundred men joined him. Then he was killed and everyone who followed him fled, and nothing was left.
After him, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared, dragging the people behind him. However, he too died and all his followers scattered. As for what is happening now, I give you some advice: don’t worry about these men and let them go. Because, if this project or this activity is of human origin it will be destroyed. But, if it comes from God, you will not be able to eliminate them. Be careful not to fight against God!” And the members of the Sanhedrin accepted Gamaliel’s opinion.
They then called the apostles, ordered them to be flogged, forbade them to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. The apostles left the Council very happy for having been considered worthy of insults, because of the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and in the houses, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (John 6,1-15)
— Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called Tiberias. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he performed on behalf of the sick. Jesus went up to the mountain and sat there with his disciples. Passover, the festival of the Jews, was approaching.
Looking up, and seeing that a large crowd was coming to meet him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread that they may eat?” He said this to test him, as he himself knew very well what he was going to do. 7Philip replied, “Not even two hundred pieces of silver would be enough to give everyone a piece of bread.”
One of the disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said: “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two fish. But what is this for so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” There was a lot of grass in that place, and approximately five thousand men sat there.
Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed them to those who were sitting, as much as they wanted. And he did the same with the fish. When everyone was satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, “Gather up the pieces that are left over, so that nothing is lost!”
They collected the pieces and filled twelve baskets with the remains of the five loaves, left by those who had eaten. Seeing the sign that Jesus had performed, those men exclaimed: “This is truly the Prophet, the one who must come into the world”. But when he noticed that they were trying to take him to proclaim him king, Jesus withdrew again, alone, to the mountain.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
May the peace of the Lord be with you all! Today, gathered in this celebration, I would like to begin our reflection with a simple question, but deeply relevant to our lives: have you ever felt faced with an impossible situation? A moment when there seemed to be no solution in sight? I’m sure each of us can relate to this experience, as we all face challenges and difficulties on our journey.
Our first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, presents us with an inspiring narrative. Peter and the apostles were facing intense persecution because of their faith in Jesus. They were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, the religious and political court of the time. There, they faced an imminent threat to their lives because of the testimony they gave to the Resurrected One.
However, a man named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, stands up and offers wise and thoughtful advice. He reminds everyone about two previous revolutionary movements that came and went: that of Theudas and that of Judas the Galilean. Gamaliel concludes by saying: “Therefore, I advise you: do not worry about these men, let them go. Because if this project or this action is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not succeed destroy them. Do not become enemies of God” (Acts 5:38-39).
These words resonate in our hearts today as they remind us that even when we face seemingly impossible situations, God is with us. He is our refuge and strength, our help in adversity. When we trust in God, we do not need to fear the impossible, as He has the power to transform the most challenging circumstances.
This truth is vividly illustrated in the Gospel of John. Jesus was surrounded by a hungry crowd of about five thousand men, as well as women and children. In front of this crowd, the problem seemed insurmountable. But Jesus, in his compassion and power, performs an impressive miracle. With just five loaves and two fish, He not only feeds the multitude, but there are twelve baskets of leftovers!
This story teaches us several valuable lessons. First, it reminds us of God’s generosity and providence. Even when we have little to offer, if we trust God and put what we have in His hands, He can multiply our resources beyond our imagination. We must be willing to share what little we have and trust God to do the rest.
Furthermore, this story calls us to be instruments of divine providence. Just as the disciples were tasked with distributing food, we are also called to be channels of God’s grace to others. We can make a difference in people’s lives by sharing our gifts, our time, and our resources, knowing that God can turn these offerings into abundant blessings.
However, we must be careful not to limit God’s power to our limited understanding. Disciples, like us, often tend to doubt and question divine possibilities. They asked Jesus, “What are five loaves for so many?” (John 6:9). But Jesus invites us to trust His word and cast our worries and doubts on Him. He is capable of doing much more than we can imagine.
Dear brothers and sisters, amid the challenges and impossibilities we face in our lives, we are called to trust God and give our worries to Him. He is the God of miracles and infinite possibilities. Where there is despair, Electrifies hope; where there is darkness, He brings light; Where there is hunger, He brings abundant food.
However, our faith should not be limited to just words and thoughts. It needs to manifest itself in practical action. Faced with the hungry crowd, Jesus gave his disciples a specific task: to distribute the food. Likewise, we are called to act in response to God’s grace in our lives. We can look around us and identify the needs of those within our reach: the hungry, the thirsty, the lonely, the needy. By committing to being instruments of divine providence, we can make a difference in the lives of those around us.
Furthermore, we must apply spiritual principles to practical situations in our everyday lives. For example, just as Jesus blessed the bread before distributing it, we should bless and be grateful for our resources and blessings. Gratitude leads us to recognize God’s generosity and share it with others. We can also learn from the hungry crowd, who were willing to give up their own food and share it with others. We must be willing to sacrifice and share what we have, trusting that God will meet all our needs.
As I conclude this homily, I want to encourage each of you to reflect on the spiritual truths we find in the biblical passages we meditate on today. Ask yourself: in what areas of my life have I faced impossibilities? Where do I need to trust God more and give my worries to Him? How can I be an instrument of divine providence in the lives of others?
Remember that God is by our side in all circumstances. He is the God of miracles, the one who transforms the impossible into possible. May we place our trust in Him and act with courage and generosity, knowing that He is capable of doing much more than we hope or imagine.
May the grace of our Lord JesusChrist, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us always. Amen.
