Bread of Life

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the coming weeks we will not be listening to the Gospel according to Mark but instead, excerpts from the 6th Chapter of the Gospel according to John, will be read. 

“For with God nothing shall be impossible,” these are the words found in the beginning of Luke’s Gospel (1,37) and today’s reading testifies to this. There are a number of lessons to elicit from today’s reading. The centrality of our faith in God, is paramount. When we trust God, he can even change our smallest of actions into something huge which we never expected to be possible.

Similar to readings of the past weeks, Jesus is being followed by the crowds, because of his miracles. Jesus asks Philip to do something which is impossible to do: to buy enough food to feed the thousands present. Did Jesus need to ask for Philip’s help? Had he wanted to do so, Jesus could have done this same miracle without any help from the apostles or the young lad who had the bread and fish. However, God asks for our cooperation. God wants us to trust him. God wants us to turn to him in our needs, to ask for help, and thus acknowledge his majesty. Today, Jesus is putting this question to us: “When you find yourself in a difficult situation, what do you do?” What do we do? Do we give up? Do we despair? Do we turn to him and trust that he will lead us?

Apart from trusting in him, God wants us to do our part too. It is worthy to pray for the poor, for peace in the world and that COVID-19 is eradicated. Yet, what are we doing? Jesus did not need Philip, or Andrew or the boy, however he wanted them to play their part too. What are we doing to lessen poverty in the world or to bring peace around us and in our families? How are we taking care of our health and that of others?

After everyone had eaten, the apostles gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. The people wanted to declare Jesus their king. They recognised who he was, however they did not understand why Jesus became man. They wanted a king to overthrow the Romans. On the other hand, Jesus wanted to rule their hearts. Who is Jesus for me? Is he the king of my life?

Why are there enough leftovers to fill twelve baskets? Twelve is the number of apostles. With the little Jesus received, the five loaves of bread and two fish, food of the poor, Jesus did what was impossible to do, he fed all those present, and there were also leftovers! When the apostles accepted to do what he wanted them to do, when they accepted to proclaim his teachings to the whole world, they gave themselves with all their shortcomings, and Jesus gave them all that they needed. How could twelve men proclaim his message to the whole world? How could frightened men risk their lives to do as he wished? Today, we are proof of their success. We are the fruit of the teachings, started by Jesus and continued by these twelve men. Today, Jesus is inviting us to get hold of one of these baskets, full of leftovers and pass it on to others. Despite our defects and uncertainties, Jesus trusted us with a family to bring it up according to his will. He trusts us to witness to others, his love and mercy. 

Jesus will not leave us on our own. “Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him” and he felt compassion for them. And today, he feels compassion for us too.

A reading from the Gospel of John (Jn 6, 1-15)

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. 

When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”  He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.”  One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”  

Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.  So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.  When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.  

When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”  Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. What are your five loaves and two fish which you can offer Jesus? What will you do? Will you give them to him or keep back? Pray for faith, and allow Jesus to show you how to love as he does and how to give yourself for others.
  4. Help the children to be generous with others and to share what they have. Be of an example to them, and speak about how you help others and how they can help others too, even if in little things. 
  5. Together with your family find the right time to read this gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare:
    i. The Bible reading from St John (6, 1-15)
    ii. A candle
    iii. Cover the table with a green clot
    vi. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  6. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested)
  7. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  8. Be creative 😊
  9. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family

Today, we are going to listen to one of Jesus’ miracles. Imagine a lot and a lot of people. (note to parents: show them the picture of a big crowd. Children of this age, do not yet have a concept of amounts, so the picture will help them to understand that there were a lot of people) Today, Jesus will give all these people something to eat. Let us listen to what happened. 

  • Like the boy in today’s Gospel, we should share with others 
  • Printout of today’s activity
  • Colours
  • Picture of a big crowd, the Gospel mentions 5,000 men, this did not include women and children
PrintoutDownload

We have heard about a time when many people approached Jesus to hear him teach. Jesus asks one of the apostles, named Philip, to go and buy food for all these people. 

What did Philip reply? (to buy food for all those people, they needed a lot of money)

What did Andrew tell Jesus? (that there was a boy who had five barley loaves and two fish)

Do you think these were enough to feed all those people?

What did Jesus do? Did he send them to look for more food, because that was too little?

Instead of sending everyone home to eat, Jesus takes the bread and fish and he prays. Then he asks the apostles to give the food to the people. 

Do you remember what happened next? (there was enough bread and fish for everyone!)

Jesus did a big miracle, and everyone ate as much as he wanted. Afterwards they gathered enough leftovers to fill twelve baskets!

Today, we learn that we should share, even when we find it difficult to do so. That boy, could have kept the food for himself. Instead he gave it to Jesus. We too, should do like this boy. 

What can we share? (note to parents: help the children understand that they can share not only material things, like chocolate and games, but they can also share their time. When, for example, they stop from their games, to help in the house, they would be sharing their time)

You always find what to eat…don’t you? Do you know that there are children in the world, and even in Malta, who do not have enough to eat? Do you think you can help them? How? (note to parents: if the children have money they received as gifts or pocket money, encourage them to give from this money, to the poor. Remember that children of this age, do not have a concept of the value of money, so to help them understand, do not only encourage them to give from their money, but to give money which was going to be used to buy something for themselves)

Do you remember what happened to the leftovers? (The food that was left was gathered in baskets) This teaches us that we should not waste. We should not put more food on our plates, than we are going to eat. When you have toys, which you no longer use, but they are still in a good condition, you can give them to someone else. Your parents, can also give clothes which are no longer used, to those in need. 

You know that you should say thank you, when you receive something. God provides the food that you eat, through the help of farmers, other workers and your parents, who lovingly prepare your meals. In today’s activity you are going to colour and decorate prayers you say before and after meals. These prayers are a way of saying thank you to God and to those who provided your food. When you colour and decorate these pages, your parents will put them back to back and laminate them, so that they may be wiped. This will be your placemat. Before eating put it in front of you and say the prayer before meals. Then put your plate on top. After eating, turn it round and say the prayer after meals. It you want you may do a placemat for all your family and even for your friends!

Whilst colouring your placemat, listen to, Shout Hooray.

Sign of the cross.

Dear Jesus, thank you, for all that you give us. Thank you for the food you give us every day. Jesus, we pray for those children who do not have enough to eat, so that people will send money and they can buy food. Help me, to share with others. Amen. 

Imagine that you are at school and it is time for your lunch break. The teacher asks you to get out your lunch. You bring it out and when you put it on your desk, you notice that no one else has anything to eat! What are you going to do?

Even if you were to share what you have, it would not be enough for everyone to eat! However, once, something similar happened. On that occasion, Jesus performed a miracle and many people had enough to eat, as we are going to hear in today’s Gospel.

  • God provides for us and he is very generous
  • Jesus provides food for us today, through the Eucharist 
  • A paper plate
  • Printout of today’s activity, printed on construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Colours
  • Pencil
  • Glue
  • Decorations
PrintoutDownload

We find today’s miracle in all the four Gospels. This shows that it is an important miracle, which has a lot to teach us. First and foremost, Jesus wants us to trust him, because he can take care of our needs. When Jesus saw all those people, who wanted to listen to his teachings, yet far from home and hungry, he took pity on them and he wanted to feed them. Had he wanted to do so, Jesus could have done this same miracle without anyone’s help. However, apart from showing the greatness of God, he also wanted to show us that we have an important role in God’s plan. The boy did not have much to offer, five barley loaves and two fish. The boy was poor. However he was generous and wanted to offer all he had. He could not have imagined how his small meal could help. Even Andrew was unsure. This miracle shows us that when we offer something to God, no matter how small, he can do wonderful things through it. 

Can you remember the amount of food that was provided? (enough to feed everyone, and afterwards they gathered twelve baskets of leftovers)

This shows us God’s generosity. 

The Gospel does not tell us what happened with these leftovers. What do you think happened?

For sure, they were not wasted. We know that we should not waste. Not only are we to share what we have, but we should also give our extra. We can do this, when, for example, we give to those in need, games which we no longer use, or clothes which are still in a good condition but which we no longer wear. 

This miracle also reminds us of something else. Mass, as you know, is divided into four main parts. In the offertory, we offer bread and wine. God accepts these gifts and he changes them into something so much greater. The bread and wine, are changed into the body and blood of Jesus. We also offer ourselves, and we believe that through the Eucharist, great things can happen to us. 

For today’s activity, you are going to think about what you can offer God. You can offer material things, like money, or even your talents. For example, if you are a good storyteller, you can tell stories to your younger brothers and sisters, whilst your parents are doing something else. If you are good at drawing, you can do a card and send it to a neighbour or relative who lives alone. If you are good at singing, you may wish to join the parish choir. You may also give your service and become an altar server (some parishes also allow girls to join).

Cut the paper plate from the middle and glue the ends together to form a basket. Colour and decorate it as you wish. Cut out the fish and the bread and write down on them those things which you can share with others. Put them in the paper basket. Do not forget them there! See that during the coming days, you act upon those things which you have listed down.

Whilst doing this activity, listen to, One basket.

Sign of the cross.

Thank you God, for your generosity. You provide for us all that we need, and more. Teach us how to be generous like you. Thank you Jesus, for coming to us through the Eucharist. Help us to allow you to change us and become more like you. Amen. 

1. According to today's Gospel, Jesus went to the...

Correct! Wrong!

2. How much fish and loaves of bread did the boy who was introduced by Andrew to Jesus have?

Correct! Wrong!

3. What did Jesus do before distributing the loaves and fish to the seated people?

Correct! Wrong!

4. What did the people say when they realized that Jesus had provided food for everyone?

Correct! Wrong!

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.