Keep ON the grass!

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.

When was the last time you played on and rolled in the grass? Do people still? Are there enough areas for grass to grow in the first place? As our cities become faster-paced urban concrete jungles, less and less open spaces become devoted to patches of greeneries. But then if we’re lucky enough to come across a well tended landscape, often a sign sticking out of the ground may say: Keep off the grass! What a pity to think of the possibility of future generations completely missing the joys of frolicking in the grass.

Our gospel today introduces a scene when Jesus not only asked everyone to recline on the grass but himself sat down with his disciples in the same place where there was a great deal of grass.

To sit down, as we know provides us a totally different perspective as against when we are standing up. However, to sit not on a comfortable chair but on sheer ground and grass, where one runs the risks of soiling one’s clothes, getting bitten by an insect or catching some harmful germs, offers some other unique challenges. When some of us may prefer to be always on the go and choose not to be bogged down by self-imposed discomforts, Jesus’ instruction may come as a real test: C’mon ... sit on the grass. Now! 

This supposedly “relaxed” state becomes the backdrop for the goings on in our gospel today. Jesus asks a question to test his apostle Philip: “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” Jesus’ question seems to presuppose a prior decision of taking responsibility for feeding everyone: “We are buying food to feed everyone.” Why would anyone or any group? Didn’t they come on their own and therefore must fend for themselves? Not even 200 days’ wages worth of food by one worker, says Philip, would be enough for each of them to have a little. “So why must we be responsible for them?” Philip may have asked. Our own invitation to recline on the grass with Jesus perhaps is asking us the same discomforting question: Why must we be responsible for the needs of others? How do we honestly gauge our capacities to be men and women for others?

In our gospel today, the apostle Andrew takes the credit for noticing the smallest and littlest of gifts. “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish,” he exclaimed. The supply was indeed less compared to the demand of feeding some five thousand hungry men. And while the role of multiplying fish and bread was reserved for Jesus, Andrew’s knack for noticing what could have gone unnoticed was impeccable. Anyone can get lost in a huge crowd of five thousand men. Andrew not only singles out the boy with loaves and fish, he appears keen as well on things that mattered the most at a particular time. We sit on the grass with Jesus and imbibe not only a certain keenness for the world around us but as well the eye to notice what matters the most. 

Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. After having eaten their fill, the apostles were able to gather twelve wicker baskets of leftover food. Isn’t it that God gives us more than what we’ve originally asked for? Since there is more for everyone to share, the crowd need not scuttle and fight for a piece of bread and fish. Interestingly, everyone seemed to have stayed seated and composed while food was being passed around. Isn’t it a privilege to contemplate being the recipients of many gifts from this God of abundance  He who gives lovingly without limit and restriction. Indeed, for us who had received much, more is expected. We recline on the grass with the Lord and from his example learn how giving more of ourselves may mean exceeding the usual expectations.

This week, as the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) celebrates the anniversary of its founder St. Ignatius of Loyola, we heed Jesus’ call for everyone to recline on the grass and renew our commitment to be responsible for one another, to deepen our knowledge of the world around us and to give more of ourselves as we had received much from the God of abundance.

(Fr. Frank Savadera, SJ is currently the National Director of Jesuit Vocations Promotions.)