B: 17th Sun of OrdTime (29 July 2018) - LOOKING FOR A HERO? - Jn 6:1-15

What we have now is the story of the Feeding of the 5,000 men which is found in all the gospel accounts (par. Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:31-44; Lk 9:12-17). But biblical commentators are divided on what really transpired in this event. What kind of miracle did Jesus perform?

Three prevailing interpretations stand out. One is the traditional rendering that regards the event as a real miracle where Jesus multiplied the five barley loaves and two fishes to feed the 5,000 while still gathering twelve baskets of bread. This means that the story is to be treated word-for-word as factual. Two is the modern view that Jesus didn’t actually perform a standard miracle. Rather, he just facilitated the crowd to share among each other what they were carrying along in their bags. The miracle here is the transformation of the hearts of everyone, instigated by Jesus. Three is that this story is a symbolic introduction to the Sacrament of the Eucharist where participants would partake of the eucharistic bread Jesus is to distribute. In effect, this event is just a fictitious story but to be understood allegorically along the current sacramental life of the Church; the real miracle happens in the Mass.

Now, the question... which is the correct reading?

We are no exegetical experts to decide on this matter. Nevertheless, it will be beneficial to gain from all of them vis-à-vis an understanding of our Filipino identity. Allow me to cite three points of convergence that correspond to the three aforementioned readings, respectively.

1. Bahala na si Batman. Some put a spiritual dimension to the name Batman as an abbreviated “BAThalang MANlilikha”. Regardless of whom this is directed, this phrase portrays the beauty of the Bahala Na mentality (read as “resiliency”). It reminds us that Filipinos do believe that a power beyond ours is capable of solving all of our problems. Indeed, we do believe in miracles.

2. Bayanihan para sa Bayan ni Juan. Most Filipinos grow up under the “bayanihan” (cooperation among tribal members) scheme in almost everything. We grew up being reared by relatives or even neighbors. We watched televisions at our friends’ living rooms. We went to school using the old books of acquaintances. And the list goes on. This is an admirable Filipino trait that should not be lost especially in moments where extreme poverty and unemployment are experienced.

3. Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa. Filipinos do bow down and pray, together as one community. Deep in our hearts is a longing for a communion to both God and our community, hence, we are motivated to go to the Church to hear at least the Sunday Mass. We cannot explain why but this is something imbedded in our identity: that we feel our prayers are better heard when we go to the Church, kneel down and light a candle. We still adhere to the value of intercessory prayers.

Having said all of these, if there is a true hero in the story of the Feeding of the 5,000, it is we ourselves, the very ones who are reading the text. We can be agents of God’s miracle depending on how we value our cultural identity. May this identity not be lost as our politicians grapple and fight over political power, redefining what a Filipino truly means.

- Rex Fortes, CM