Seventeenth Sunday -Ordinary time

2 Kings 4: 42-44 Psalm 145 Ephesians 4: 1-6 John 6: 1-15

1. On a hot summer’s day I will leave you with two thoughts and a story.

For the next five Sundays, our Gospel will be from the 6th Chapter of St. John’s Gospel. We will hear about the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish, the teaching about the Eucharist, the Invitation and Challenge and the Response or Reaction of the hearers.

John calls all the wonders that Jesus does Signs not Miracles. They are signposts pointing us in the direction of God and God’s Providence. If you are going to use this Gospel as a theme for prayer during the next week, may I suggest that you go through your life and see all the signposts: people and events that have pointed you in the direction of God. You will find that the events for the most part have been difficulties, hardships and even tragedies. In each of these God’s supporting and protecting hand has been there. - as is the case in the hungry 5000 in today’s Gospel.

2. For people who have deep faith in God - difficulties like 5000 hungry people - are merely STOP SIGNS making us pause and recognize the hand of God. As the cliche goes: “Miracles we do everyday, the impossible takes a little more time.” For people with faith in God, there is a positive outlook on every thing: good times and bad, sickness and health.

For people who trust in themselves, the vision is usually negative. The first sign of Difficulty, they look at how they can get out of the situation with the least possible damage. For the Apostles, “let us send the people home, so that they can get something to eat.”

Trials and tribulations are a part of our everyday life. The Scribes and Pharisees would beat their breasts, and tear their garments. Today, we increase our prayers, light extra candles, make more novenas. These are good things and healthy practices, but we cannot use them to buy God’s favour like the way politicians are bribed.

Our Gospel tells us to do the best we can - bring 5 barley loaves and two fish. Then leave the rest to God.

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about 14 years ago, I was in Manitoulin Island for the month of November. There was a heavy snowstorm, when I got a call from the Funeral Parlour. Would you be willing to do a funeral of an Anglican Gentleman? When I arrived at the Parlour I met a very stately, but friendly old lady. “Father, I am an Anglican, my relatives are all non-Catholic: Presbyterian, United and others. My son goes each year to Florida for a holiday. While he and his wife were driving, he had a massive heart attack in Georgia and died. His body is being flown back here. His wife is catholic and she asked whether the Catholic Priest would do the funeral. It was a humble request but also a command. I said I would be privileged to do the Funeral. We would like the funeral three days from today, since my grandson is driving up from Minnesota.

I went back to the Rectory to prepare. Five hours later, about 8 at night, I got another frantic call from the Funeral Home. Please come at once. I arrived there to find people crying and wailing, and falling on the floor. In the midst of all that the Grandmother kept her calm. Father more sad news, my grandson and his wife were killed just outside Sault Ste Marie as their car crashed in the snowstorm. There was a deep sadness on her face.

And then she raised her hand, but not her voice. She said to her crying children and grandchildren. We are saddened by three deaths. God is giving us a message and a sign. I do not know what it is. Crying and mourning is good, but we must stop and listen - then we can hear the voice of God and see the Sign he is showing us. Go back to your houses, and be still. And especially no alcohol, we need to keep a clear mind.

There was great sorrow in her voice, but it was also very peaceful. She ended, “now let us get some rest, because I have to lay to rest, three people I love very much.”

Here was a woman who could read the Signs in her life. She called me to do the same.