TO SHARE WITH THANKSGIVING

XVII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - John 6:1-15

The experience of starvation is very old. In old and modern times, there have been periods of scarcity, during which whole regions suffer from famine. The Scriptures present the experience of Jacob and his family. Several times, they made the long journey to Egypt in order to get some supplies of food and, then, in order to survive, they went to live there as economic migrants. During their wandering through the desert, the people of Israel suffered from lack of food, leading them to revolt against Moses. And they would rather go back to slavery in Egypt than suffer from famine. God found a way out of that suffering, providing them with manna from heaven. Throughout the history of salvation, God revealed himself as the Provider. And many peoples of the world have made that experience as well. In Bemba culture, one of the titles attributed to God is Mwansa Bamba, that is Master Hunter, who brings plenty of food and keeps his household well fed.

Among the prophets, we have the extraordinary story of Elisha, who asked a man to share the food he had, which was enough to feed a big number, still leaving a surplus. In the gospels, we find Jesus doing something similar. Far away from their homes, a big crowd of people were following Jesus, and he had pity on them. A young boy had some bread and a little fish. And from that little food shared out in an attitude of thanksgiving, enough food was found to feed the crowd. In Bemba, people say: Ificepa, fyakufwala; ifyakulya taficepa. Clothes may be short, but food does not fall short. Even little, it can be shared. This attitude of sharing is very important. The food produced in the world is enough for the whole population, but a few overeat and throw away any leftover. In some places, there is overproduction, and then what cannot be sold is disposed of or allowed to rotten, leaving countless numbers of people in a precarious situation. And besides agricultural products, sold at affordable prices, we must share as well the technologies which make possible to increase production. We live in a world of plenty, plagued by obesity in a growing number of countries. The body succumbs to the weight of gluttony, and the soul becomes the prisoner of an unbridled desire for self-satisfaction.

We must pay attention to what Jesus did: He "took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them." The sharing of the bread was done in thanksgiving. He would do the same in the Last Supper, for us to learn that communion is only possible when there is sharing. With Christ let us learn to share in thanksgiving.