Do You Believe in Miracles? (17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B)

Do you believe in miracles?

There are people today who reject even the possibility of miracles.  If something happens that they can’t explain, to them it just means that science hasn’t figured it out yet.  They say someday science will be able to explain everything.

They say there are no miracles because the laws of nature must be obeyed.  As long as the laws of nature must be obeyed, then science will come to know the answer.

They are right that human beings must live within the laws of nature in this world. 

However, God is not bound by the laws of nature.  Generally God works within the laws of nature but even then He knows them in a way beyond what we know.  After all, He created the laws of nature!

The problem becomes if one denies the possibility of miracles, then how does one know that God exists.  Many of those who deny the possibility of miracles, also deny the existence but not all.  Those who remain open to the existence of God but not miracles are left in a quandary. 

The Bible is full of stories of miracles.  One example (from today’s first reading) is when Elisha, the man of God, feeds 100 people with 20 barley loaves.  When Elisha tells his servant to give the 20 loaves to the 100 people, the servant objects because he thinks the 20 loaves will not be enough.  It is enough and there was even “some left over.”  Nothing is impossible for God.

Yet, if one wishes to deny the possibility of miracles, they could say 20 loaves is enough to give 100 people each a small portion.  It won’t be enough for a meal but it would give them something.  This miracle that God works through Elisha to feed them with enough that “there was some left over” points us to a miracle that Jesus does.

Large crowds followed Jesus “because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick” (see today’s gospel reading).  The signs were miracles that drew people to Jesus.

Jesus saw the crowds and knew they needed to eat.  “He said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”  He said this to test him because he himself knew what he was going to do.”  Jesus knew that the people would see it as impossible to feed so many.  Jesus not only knew that it was not impossible.  He knew He would do it but He wanted to be sure that his disciples understood a miracle was being done.  Philip shows that he understands that the task of them feeding them seems impossible when he answers Jesus, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.”

On the other hand, Andrew sees hope.  “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish but what good are these for so many.”  Andrew recognizes the situation seems impossible yet he demonstrates hope when he tells them of the boy.  If he had no hope, then there would have been no reason to bother to mention the boy with the five loaves and two fish.

From Andrew’s hope, Jesus “took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.  Not only was there enough for everyone, but there were also twelve wicker baskets left.  This is more than they started with.  It is a miracle.  Jesus is the Son of God!

Through Elisha, 100 people were fed with 20 loaves.  This was probably a miracle but there is room for denying a miracle occurred.  Jesus fed 5,000 with five loaves.  Yet, some will still try to deny the miracle, claiming that all Jesus did was get the people who had brought food with them to share.  Yes, one person did share, the boy with five barley loaves and two fish.  There is no mention of anyone else having food.  If some of the people had brought with them enough food to feed 5,000 without a miracle, someone would have seen the food and said something.

Why does Jesus perform this miracle?  It starts with a genuine need for the people to eat. 

Why does Jesus do any miracle?  To point us to God by revealing the power of God at work in him as his Son.  Jesus wants us to become one body and one spirit in him (see today’s second reading),  He wants to bring us together in “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.”

In bringing us together in Christ Jesus, we are given the humility, gentleness, and patience to bear with one another.  On our own things may seem possible.  With God, all things are possible (see Mark 9:23).

Peace,

Fr. Jeff