Family Bible Study - July 26th, 2009 -17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Passage: Read John 6:1-15
John 6:1 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5 When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Make
the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he
withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Questions:
1) The Passage says that Jesus took the loaves of bread, gave thanks to God, and gave them
to others. What part of the Mass does this remind you of? Does Jesus still feed lots of people today? How, when, and where?

2) Jesus started this miracle by asking for help from the boy with the five loaves and two fish. He could have fed everyone by Himself, but He wanted the young boy’s help. It’s the same way now. God wants us to give Him help, however we can, so that He can take that help and do great things with it. Even little children can help God. What are you going to do this week to help Jesus?

3) Jesus did this miracle during the Feast of the Passover. What’s the Passover? Why
would Jesus do this miracle during the Passover? Is there a connection (do they belong together for some reason) between the miracle and Passover? (Hint: if you get the right answer to #1, you’ll have a big clue)
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry