Loaves, Fishes and Coffee

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary present signs of the power and presence of the Divine. The signs invite us to consider what is going on around us. “Let me buy you a coffee” is a contemporary gesture which can be a sign that reveals more about us as we extend or accept this offer. Fr Larry Gillick SJ comments that the nature of conversion is not to an idea but to a relationship with a person. The decision of the Prophet Elisha to set the food he received before the one hundred people as described in the passage from the Second Book of Kings reveals something about the nature of his relationship with God and the people and his mission to let them see and experience the opportunity for their own relationship with the Divine. The conviction expressed by the palmist that all the actions of God are good and just is the trust relationship into which we are invited. The text from the Gospel of John, Gillick suggests, may be seen as set within a liturgical theme as John shows Jesus actions with the sign of providing food to the multitudes as the invitation to venture in relationship with Him to the change in self understanding from which the signs are replaced with being the “blessed who do not see yet believe”. The growth we require as we “accept the cup of coffee” is that of Elisha, the psalmist and John that this relationship is about good, just and full life. As Father Larry summarizes, the converted one goes out in Eucharistic manner to invite others to encounter the relationship which Paul proclaims to the Ephesians brings together all people in One Body in intimate communion with the Father through signs of humility, gentleness, patience, kindness and love in those offering to feed the world. How about that coffee?