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Views from the Choir Loft

A Mini-Retreat

Fr. David Friel · August 6, 2012

The Lectionary for Mass is a mystery to most folks, even to those who are very involved in parish life. One simple thing to know about the Sunday readings is that they run on a three-year cycle. In Year A, for example, we hear mostly from the Gospel of Matthew. In Year B, we mostly read from Mark. And, in Year C, the Gospels come from Luke.

Right now, we’re in Year B—the year of Mark. Yet, the Gospel for this Sunday is taken not from Mark, but from John. This week, and actually for the next four Sundays, the Church reads from the same chapter: John, chapter 6. Why? What’s going on? What is this foray into John in the middle of the Year of Mark all about?

Well, John chapter 6 is a special chapter. The Gospel of John doesn’t have any account of the Last Supper, when Jesus instituted the Eucharist. That’s not to say, of course, that John includes no Eucharistic theology. He just goes about it differently than Matthew, Mark, & Luke (what are called the “Synoptic Gospels”). The main way John goes about teaching us about the Eucharist is through chapter 6 (what is called the “Bread of Life Discourse”). So, over the course of these five weeks every three years, we make a mini-retreat on the topic of the Eucharist, which is certainly a worthwhile subject.

So, what happens this week in John 6:1-15? This is the story of the “feeding of the five thousand” (which, interestingly, is one of the only stories about Jesus recorded in all four of the Gospels). This story is drenched in Eucharistic overtones, if we look at it closely.

The very first verses tell us that “Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee” and that “a large crowd followed Him.” So there’s something magnetic about Jesus. The people want to follow Him and to be with Him. It reminds me of the words of the Third Eucharistic Prayer: “You never cease to gather a people to Yourself, so that, from the rising of the sun to its setting, a pure sacrifice may be offered to Your name.” Jesus is always gathering us to Himself.

Then what? Jesus wants to feed the people, but they only have “five barley loaves and two fish.” That is all they have, and they don’t know what to do with it. So they give it to Jesus. In much the same way, the faithful gather for Mass with nothing but a bunch of hosts made from unleavened bread and some basic wine. They usually sit on a little table towards the back of the church, waiting to be brought forward in procession. What do we do with them? We give them to the priest, who stands in the place of Christ and, at the offertory, offers the meager bread and wine to become something more.

Then what? John tells us that “Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them.” We do the very same thing in every Mass. The priest “takes” the bread, he “gives thanks” over it, he “breaks” it during the Lamb of God, and then he “distributes” the Eucharist to those who are present. Take, bless, break, give: that’s the rhythm of the Eucharist! The people receive and have their fill.

Next, the Lord tells His disciples to “gather the fragments left over.” We do that, too, at every Mass. The remaining consecrated hosts are gathered together and placed into the tabernacle. The Eucharist is reserved there to be taken to the sick and for our prayer and adoration as we make visits throughout the day or week.

This Gospel passage is, indeed, drenched with Eucharistic overtones. What Jesus did that day was a tremendous miracle, and it was a clear foreshadowing of the Sacrament He would later establish the night before He died. We’re going to read the rest of this chapter over the next four weeks as we make our mini-retreat on the Eucharist. Maybe it would be a good idea, with the extra time we have in the summer lull, to sit down and read the chapter straight through. It would take 10 minutes, and it would put John’s theology of the Eucharist in perspective for us. Consider it your summer homework for this week: bust out your Bible, dust it off, and read John chapter 6.

When we read the Word of God, just like when we receive Him in the Eucharist, we have something to chew on. The Lord allows us to have our fill.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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Fr. David Friel

About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at St. Anselm Parish in Northeast Philly. He is currently a doctoral candidate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

Can You Spare 33 Seconds?

Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is marvelous. I missed a few notes on the organ, but I’ll get them right next time.

—Jeff Ostrowski
5 April 2021 • When Girls Sing

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Impelled by the weightiest of reasons, we are fully determined to restore Latin to its position of honor, and to do all We can to promote its study and use. The employment of Latin has recently been contested in many quarters, and many are asking what the mind of the Apostolic See is in this matter. We have therefore decided to issue the timely directives contained in this document, so as to ensure that the ancient and uninterrupted use of Latin be maintained and, where necessary, restored.”

— Pope John XXIII (22 February 1962)

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