“MULTIPLICATION OF POWER”
A Reflection on the Feeding of
the Five Thousand based from John 6:1-15
By Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, SPMCI
Aside
from Jesus, the unnamed boy who brought five loaves and two fishes to Jesus in
behalf of his father, mother and probably brothers and sisters portrayed the
important figure in the story of the multiplication of loaves and fishes. This boy represents the considered poor,
oppressed, marginalized, exploited, deprived, but struggling (pomeds) community
of that time. The boy represents the insignificant people that were deprived by
social services supposed to be offered by the government of their time. The loaves of bread and fishes shared by the
unnamed boy and his family represent their status as ordinary people (the
loaves of bread and fish were the common food of the pomeds during the time of
Jesus). Represent their gift or something to share to give life and strength
for others. Thus reminds us to our existence as human beings to be a sacrament
of God’s liberating grace and love for all.
The multiplication of loaves and
fish is the multiplication of power rooted from the context of the pomeds
people to change the world of poverty, oppression, marginalization,
exploitation, and deprivations towards the fullness of life. The appearance of
the unnamed boy from anywhere symbolizes the procession of the gift of life and
hope from the margins, which is a fertile ground of liberating sources and
forces for making the future with hope present. The acceptance of Jesus of the
five loaves and two fishes offered by the unnamed boy is a confirmation of
Jesus about the gift, treasures, and strength that the ordinary people have and
fully share to liberate themselves and realized in and through them the reign
of God. The miracles is not only happened in the multiplication of loaves and fishes
but on the enlightenment and empowerment experienced by the people who
witnessed the procession of the life and gift by the unnamed boy to the
historical Jesus.
In the story, when Jesus commanded his disciple to let the people settle down in the grassland and organize themselves into a small group for them to fellowship, share their food and stories with one another. The miracles there is the realization of the people that something will happen when they share together and together in facing the challenges of their time – that actually multiply their own power or potency to transform the world.####
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