(Please read the Scripture passage before reading the homily.)
John’s account of Jesus’ life differs from that of the other gospel writers. In John, Jesus takes the initiative. In John, Jesus is always center stage and no one upstages Jesus. John divides his account into two major parts, a book of signs and a book of glory. The book of glory forms the account of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The book of signs is the first part of the account.
Today’s story is part of the book of signs. The signs point out who Jesus is. The signs challenge all to listen and believe.
Jesus has climbed a mountain, as Moses once did. He has taught the crowds. He has discerned their hunger. He has decided to feed them, all five thousand of them. Such a meal in our day would cost about half a year’s salary. He knew what he would do, but he wanted to test his disciples. He took five loaves of bread and two fish and fed everyone in the crowd.
Who else climbed a mountain and gave the people food to eat in a desert? Yes, it was Moses. Some of the prophets were also known to have multiplied food to feed people. Who taught the people from a mountain? Again, it was Moses, the agent of God’s deliverance.
Since this is the book of signs, how do we read the signs? What do the signs tell us about Jesus? Is Jesus someone like Moses? Does the fact that Jesus has just crossed the Sea of Galilee point out another sea, the Red Sea and the passage from slavery to freedom?
The crowd saw the sign and decided that Jesus was the Prophet everyone was waiting for. That was partially correct, but Jesus would not be only the expected prophet, but likewise he would not be a king to lead others in battle against a Roman army or any other earthly army. The crowd had yet to come to know Jesus as Son of God.
We shall see more of the conflict between what the crowd thought about Jesus and about the truth of Jesus. This is our challenge, we who can say that Jesus is Lord, that we live the reality of our expressed belief and not simply say it. John’s book of signs calls us to read the signs and apply our faith to these times.