Homily, 7-28-24; Sunday of the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B:
The large crowd that had followed Jesus up the mountain did so “because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.” They were chasing after miracles, not searching for the truth. St. John Chrysostom comments: “Though favored with [His] teaching, they were influenced less by it, than by the miracles.”
In today’s gospel passage we have the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. It is a very important miracle; it is so important that it is recorded in all four gospels. It is important because it foreshadows the miracle of the Eucharist which we experience every time we come to Mass. In John’s gospel that we heard today, the story of the miracle of the loaves and fish comes shortly before the Bread of Life discourse where Jesus tells us to eat His Body and drink His Blood and we will have eternal life.
But John’s account differs from the accounts of the other three evangelists in that he singles out the poor apostle Philip as an example of lack of faith. It was Philip at the Last Supper who said: “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” And Jesus chastised him in reply: “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?”
In today’s miracle story, Jesus tests Philip’s faith. Although he had been with Jesus, and seen so many of his miracles, he still thought in earthly terms when considering how to feed the multitude. Two hundred days wages wouldn’t be enough to give them each a little. Philip doesn’t seem to have faith in Jesus’ power. He does not fully recognize and really know Jesus, and still didn’t at the Last Supper.
Similarly, Andrew is also tested. He knows of the story of how the prophet, Elisha, multiplied twenty barley loaves to feed one hundred men—the story we heard in our first reading. But he didn’t have faith that Jesus could feed 5000 men with five barley loaves saying: “What good are these for so many?”
Jesus performed miracles for different reasons. Sometimes it was to teach. In today’s miracle he gave preliminary teaching to lead up to future teaching on the Eucharist. He also taught Philip, the other apostles, and the crowd a lesson about who He truly is. And sometimes God performs miracles as a blessing for someone close to Him, for someone who has prayed fervently and faithfully for a healing or a favor.
But miracles are usually intended for those with little or no faith. For example, St. Paul writes about the gift of tongues: “Thus, tongues are a sign not for those who believe but for unbelievers.” (1 Cor. 14:22)I attended a charismatic conference once. It’s not my cup of tea, but I wanted to check it out. Those leading the conference encouraged all of us to start babbling and to try to speak in tongues. It was pretty silly. There was an attitude that, if you couldn’t or wouldn’t speak in tongues, then you had inferior faith. The gift of tongues made perfect sense for the early disciples who spread the Good News to foreign countries. But now that the Church has a presence in all corners of the world, speaking in tongues has only limited value. St. Paul continues with his comment on tongues saying: “So if the whole church meets in one place and everyone speaks in tongues, and then uninstructed people or unbelievers should come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?” (1 Cor. 14:23)
Miracles are wonderful things that can attract unbelievers to Jesus and then confirm to them His power. We who are believers, however, should not look to, and depend on, miracles as a source of continued faith. We should not be miracle chasers like the crowds that followed Jesus up the mountain. We can pray and ask Jesus for a miracle when we, or a loved one, is in a desperate state of distress, but we cannot base our faith on whether that miracle is granted or not. We cannot see God’s action or inaction as a measure of our worthiness and value in His eyes.
Once, when on a pilgrimage to a Marian site, there were rumors and discussions about some of the pilgrims who had their rosaries miraculously turn from silver to gold. It caused a great distraction as people were more focused on checking the color of their rosary, than they were on praying devoutly. It was like a prideful holiness contest, as if a gold rosary would be a badge of honor.
It is okay and good to pray for a miracle. The Lord knows that our country, and the world, could use a miracle of conversion about now, that we could use some divine intervention. But first pray for strengthening your gift of faith that will allow you to accept whatever comes along as God’s will. Do not pray for a miracle to test God. As Jesus said: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Consider how well you know Jesus and strive to know Him better. When you meet Him for your judgement, will He ask you as He asked Philip: “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me?”