17th Sunday in the
Ordinary Time
July 26, 2015
John 6:1-15
“There
is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these
for so many? (John 6:9)”
The story of the multiplication
of the bread is in essence, a heartwarming story of utter generosity. It is not
a kind of generosity that is coming from our excess belonging, but that is
flowing from our deepest self. There is a huge difference between a millionaire
father who gladly bought a latest iPhone series for his young son, and a poor
father who happily shares his plate of rice with his little kid. The former
gives from excessive abundance, and the later shares his very nourishment and
life.
When Jesus posted a tough
question on how to feed the multitude, Philip immediately reduced the problem
into a financial matter. “Two hundred
denarii worth of bread would not be enough for them.” Yet, Jesus knew well
that this is not only about money. Then, when a little boy came with everything
he had, two fish and five loaves of bread, it seems that the lad’s effort was
going to be futile. However, what Jesus was looking for is not what or how much
we give, but ‘who’ we share. The little kid is sharing his very himself and
allowed God to take care of the rest. This is the beginning of utter generosity
that practically solve the impossible and gives life to others.
Our world today is so filled with
poor people and widening gap between the wealthy and the ordinary. Even this
inequality is affecting the most progressive countries in the world. Robert
Reich, a former Secretary of Labor in Bill Clinton’s administration, mentions
in his documentary ‘Inequality for All’ that the cost of living is soaring
while the amount of income remain stagnant in past few years. This forces
Americans to work harder and harder, having two jobs or even more. Some become
unemployed and others go into debt problem. The real issues, however, is not
only about wrong economic systems or policies, but goes deeper into the core of
human beings. As both Pope Benedict XVI and Francis keep reiterating, the main
culprit is greed.
Greed is a sin and just like any
sin, it affects anybody, both the rich and the poor. Wealthy yet greedy people
can easily exploit the poor through corruption or fraud, and always find a way
to manipulate their fellow wealthy men. Greedy poor workers can also oppress
their employers by their unjust demands and sometimes violence, and trick their
fellow workers through deceit. Greed causes this downward mobility of economy as
well as perennial poverty. Jesus is now offering us the remedy: the utter
generosity.
It is a kind of generosity that
cannot be measured by sum of money, because the gift of self is indeed
priceless. In fact, human community is built upon this utter generosity.
Marriage is formed when both husband and wife are totally giving themselves to
each other. Family is founded when parents share their life for their
offspring, and in turn, the kids respect and love their parents. Society is
established when each individual lavishly offers their time, effort and
resources, in order that everyone may arrive at the common good.
When I just began my journey in
the Order of Preachers, the Indonesian Dominicans had no house, no vehicle, no
properties, practically nothing. We, in fact, were staying at the diocesan
seminary in Borneo, occupying an empty quarter there. Even when things seemed
rather bleak and financially challenged, my brother and mentor, Fr. Adrian
Adiredjo, OP, told me that ‘money must always be our least concern.’ We must not
be tempted to think like Philip, to reduce things into financial problems. I am
not perfect and also commit mistakes, but because of generosity of many people,
I was able to reach this point. Truly, as I am continually offering myself, my
two fish and five bread, to this life and ministry, God provides the rest. There
is nothing impossible for our generous God.
Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno,
OP
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