Friday of the Second Week of Easter

“Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, 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. Philip answered him, "Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people recline." Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted." So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world." Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.” -John 6:1-15
 
God placed clues throughout Scripture and laid a blueprint for those who can see them. This reading comes as the cardinals of the Church begin the process of selecting Peter’s successor. Jesus selected His twelve and passed them the reins of the Church. They were chosen to be Christ in persona, and from those twelve come today's bishops. What meager gifts they have on earth are still multiplied into superabundance by Christ. 
 
In the Mass, we see the Last Supper and the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus. We also see the gifts of God’s abundance in this passage. The priest, in accord with his bishop, stands in persona Christi, receiving our meager offering, and Christ, living in the Holy Eucharist, feeds the multitudes yet again.
 
What is left over is collected and placed in the tabernacle, where Jesus waits patiently for us to approach Him, ready to make Him our King.
 
Hallelujah, He is risen! He is risen indeed, Hallelujah!
 
Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, pray for us.
 
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Jesus, I trust in you.