Gospel (Jn 6,1-15) - At that time, Jesus crossed to the other shore of the Sea of Galilee, that is, Tiberias, and a large crowd followed him, because he saw the signs he performed on the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat there with his disciples. Easter, the Jewish feast, was near. Then Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him and said to Philip: "Where can we buy bread so that these people can eat?". He said this to test him; in fact he knew what he was about to do. Philip replied to him: "Two hundred denarii of bread are not enough even for everyone to receive a piece." Then one of his disciples, Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, said to him: «There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what is this for so many people?”. Jesus replied: "Make them sit down." There was a lot of grass in that place. So they sat down, and there were about five thousand men. Then Jesus took the loaves and, after giving thanks, gave them to those who were sitting, and he did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples: "Gather up the leftover pieces, so that nothing is lost." They collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over from those who had eaten. Then the people, seeing the sign that he had performed, said: "This is truly the prophet, the one who comes into the world!". But Jesus, knowing that they were coming to take him to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain, he alone.

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The Gospel passage reports the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves according to the Gospel of John. The evangelist notes the large crowd that follows Jesus because of the "signs" that he performed on the sick. Those crowds sensed that Jesus was a good and strong man, who helped and healed those who had lost health and hope. Jesus, for his part, was aware of this thirst for love that arose from the people. The evangelist writes, as if to underline his attitude of mercy, that Jesus "lifts his eyes" and sees the crowd coming towards him. It's not like us who generally keep our eyes only on ourselves and our affairs. Jesus asks us to raise our eyes, together with him, from the concentration we have on ourselves so that we can notice those who suffer and who need help. It is not the disciples who realize the need to eat that those crowds have. It is Jesus who realizes this and asks Philip where to buy the bread to feed all those people. The apostle Philip cannot help but notice the impossibility of finding bread to cope with so many people. It was the most obvious observation, but also the most resigned. Andrea, present at the conversation, comes forward and says that there are only five barley loaves and two fish. Practically, nothing. For them therefore the discussion is closed. But they had not yet understood that "what is impossible for men is possible for God". We too should often remember these words, instead of calmly resigning ourselves in the face of difficulties. But Jesus, who lets himself be guided by his passionate love for people, does not give up. He orders them to seat that crowd. And the scene of a great banquet opens where everyone is satiated for free. The evangelist recalls the celebration of the Eucharist in the gesture and words of Jesus. Those loaves placed in the hands of Jesus, the compassionate one, are enough for everyone. Unlike the narrative of the Synoptic Gospels, here the evangelist makes Jesus act alone; it is he who takes the loaves, multiplies them and distributes them. It's like wanting to underline that there is a direct relationship between the shepherd and the sheep. Pope Francis' words to priests are beautiful but we can all welcome them: "We need to go out... into the suburbs where there is suffering, there is blood shed, there is blindness that desires to see, there are prisoners of many bad masters... Whoever does not go out of his own way, instead of being a mediator, gradually becomes an intermediary, a manager. I ask you: be shepherds with the smell of sheep." We must go towards the peripheries, towards those who await love, justice and peace. We place our few loaves in the hands of Jesus and the miracle happens. The hands of Jesus - it is he who multiplies and distributes - do not hold anything back for themselves, they are used to opening up, to being generous. He multiplies our weakness. The miracle continues if we, like that boy, leave the narrow-mindedness of the disciples and place the poor barley loaves we possess into the hands of the Lord. The crowd wanted to proclaim him king. But he fled to the mountain, alone. Jesus does not want to debase the urgency of bread, if anything he underlines the need to nourish ourselves with eternal bread: friendship with him. Prayer of the Holy Cross