Por Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB

There is power beyond human power. The scriptures on this 17th Sunday B insist on one thing: Believe in the power of God! But faith is a gift of God beyond human strength to achieve. It can come only from God. Our task then is to be open to that gift, to allow the gift of faith to enter and become strong. So, let the readings this weekend rekindle in us, faith!

Ellisha, of the first reading, was an assistant to the great prophet Elijah. As Elijah was taken up to God, Elisha begged the prophet to share with him just a portion of his God-given power. As Elijah was drawn up, he left his cloak behind, a sign that Elisha’s wish had been satisfied. With the prophet’s cloak, Elisha struck the water of the Jordan. It parted. Wearing it, he called for the miracle of multiplied bread, and it happened.

This is not just a fable. The Church has used it to stress God’s power, not Elisha’s. It is an invitation for us to permit God to give us faith. The second call is from St. Paul. To us as well as to the Ephesians he urges that we ‘live in a manner worthy of the call [we] have received.” He wants us to receive that call humbly and to live at peace with one another. Brothers and sisters, Believe! By the faith instilled at Baptism, we are called to be one with God and one with our neighbor. Again,  our task is to submit to God’s call.

Jesus too calls us to Believe. At Passover time, our Lamb of God had compassion on the crowd. He asserted His power over nature. He multiplied bread and fish to feed a great multitude. Our Gospel has not yet been there, but Jesus will say in Chapter Six of St. John that He is the true bread sent by God who comes down from heaven. The Word he speaks is God’s. He will say further on that at His command bread will take on the nature of His body and blood. He, Word of God, creator of all things, will create the greatest of marvels. He will be in the bread of the Eucharist. Believe Him, that what we receive in Holy Communion is HIM!

The hand of the Lord feeds us!

(Resp. Ps 145, 17th Sunday B)