By Fr. Andrew Kelly
17TH SUNDAY ORDINAL TIME – JULY 29
The risen Jesus has gathered the believing community for Sunday Eucharist. The risen Jesus does what Jesus did in Sunday’s Gospel (John 6:1-15):
“Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated … as much as they wanted.
“When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’” This is Jesus’ promise that for all time, the Eucharist will be celebrated within believing communities.
On Sunday, the bread that the community will consume is the “fragments left over” from that first feeding. Nothing has been “lost” because it is the risen Jesus who is doing the feeding.
Jesus’ Eucharist will always be present. The details of how will need to be worked out among the believers. But the Eucharist will be present as long as it is believed that the risen Jesus is present.
Jesus does not accept Philip and Andrew’s excuses of scarcity when confronted with the lack of bread (Eucharist).
When the risen Jesus is present, there is only abundance and never scarcity. This is the meaning of: “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.”
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
Scripture Readings for July 29 to Aug. 5
Sunday
2 Kgs 4:42-44
Eph 4:1-6
Jn 6:1-15
Monday
Jer 13:1-11
Mt 13:31-35
Tuesday
Jer 14:17-22
Mt 13:36-43
Wednesday
Jer 15:10, 16-21
Mt 13:44-46
Thursday
Jer 18:1-6
Mt 13:47-53
Friday
Jer 26:1-9
Mt 13:54-58
Saturday
Jer 26:11-16, 24
Mt 14:1-12
Sunday
Ex 16:2-4, 12-15
Eph 4:17, 20-24
Jn 6:24-35
