Jn. 6: 1-15
We had a course on adult catechesis. As part of this course, our professor wanted to introduce us to a new form of catechesis method in the Church known as the alpha programme. We did not feel any particular fascination when we heard about this because we have studied different renewal programmes in the Church and took for granted that it might be one such programme. Anyway, our professor gathered us in our classroom. As soon as he opened the classroom, we were all surprised. There were lots of snacks and cool drinks.
Then our professor divided us into six groups, and we sat according to our groups. Then he asked us to distribute snacks and cool drinks to all the members. So we had this agape in the beginning. The professor screened a catechesis session on Christ’s experience prepared by the Alpha team. It was so appealing and thought-provoking. After that, we had a very personal sharing of the questions related to the theme. We agreed in the beginning that whatever opinions we expressed in the group would remain confidential. All shared their intimate and personal experience of their faith journey, how the Lord guided them in those moments of crisis, the story of their vocational journey and how this call empowered their faith experience, and some shared their pastoral experience, etc. Though we have had several group sharings during the past few years, this experience was completely new and exciting.
All the other subjects were intended for academic requirements, but we felt that for our lives. A heart to heart dialogue and deep sharing of life. Since our group was smaller in number, our professor joined us. We were edified by his own personal experience of Christ and the pastoral experience that transformed him. This is a new movement in the Church for the catechesis of adults. The members come together for thirteen consecutive weeks and they follow the same methodology for every session. They listen and share the essentials of the Christian faith and also their faith experience. At the end of our session, we realized that our stomachs and our hearts were filled with the sharing of goodness and God-experience.
Today’s gospel passage invites us to meditate on the Johannine account of the multiplication of bread. This is the only miracle that is mentioned in all four gospels. However, the Johannine account is different from others because this account is intimately linked with the institution of the Holy Eucharist, which we don’t find in the Last Supper narration of John. We see in this account, as soon as Jesus sees the large crowd, he decides to provide them with food. Though he knew that the disciples could not manage to provide sufficient bread for the multitude, he asked for their suggestion. Jesus could have created bread from nothing. Anyhow, he incorporates human efforts and generosity into this miracle. Disciples seek bread and find a boy who shares bread and fish out of his generosity. When Jesus offers the Lord, he gives thanks to the Father and shares it. It satisfies everyone who gathered there, and in the end, they collect the remainder of 12 baskets full of bread. Thus, God-human sharing will satisfy the spiritual hunger of people who belong to the four corners of the earth…. The Holy Eucharist…
From the beginning of the Church, the Holy Eucharist was associated with breaking the bread, followed by agape. It was a way of life that moulded their spirituality and world vision. Out of this great sharing, they cultivate the attitude of sharing all that they possess: their faith experiences, happiness, sorrow, material wealth, etc. Thus, they were united in heart and soul. The act of sharing and caring for the weak was the hallmark of early Christian spirituality. However, when the church was institutionalised over the course of time, we lost the real core of spirituality. Ritualism took the upper hand over spirituality. Every Eucharistic celebration is an invitation to share our life with our needy brothers and sisters, just as Christ shared his own body and blood so that we may have life in abundance. We give lots of importance to the ritualistic dimension of the Eucharist to receive Jesus into our hearts. Unfortunately, our effort to live the Eucharistic spirituality of sharing has become very minimal. As we continue our faith journey, let us keep in mind that Jesus multiplied human generosity for the multitude. Let us offer our goodness to our needy brothers and sisters so that Jesus may bless our efforts and use us as his channel of love and grace.