St. John does not tell us how many were in the crowd that day. Matthew and Mark refer to about 5,000 and go on to describe another miraculous feeding of about 4,000 (*see references below). The exact number does not matter. What matters is that “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… they collected… and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat” (John 6: 11-13). This miracle launches Jesus into the Bread of Life Discourse which we will be reflecting upon for the next four Sundays. Since our Church is in the midst of a three-year Eucharistic Revival, Archbishop Aquila has asked all priests and deacons of the Archdiocese of Denver to preach a five-week series about these words of Jesus which are so central to our Eucharistic spirituality.
Because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not just about things that happened 2000 years ago. His wonders and signs continue to happen in our day. Case in point: the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. I was blessed to participate in this amazing event with a group of thirteen people (twelve from IHM and one from Light of the World). How many were in that crowd from July 17-21? About 60,000! And Jesus fed us all with His living presence and sent us home with baskets of grace overflowing.
It’s impossible to express all the fruits of this pilgrimage in one bulletin column. Our group began most days with a peaceful Mass on the deck of our farmhouse with the rising sun shimmering on the backyard to the music of birds and a fountain of water splashing into a pond. Then we went to the Indianapolis Convention Center for Impact Sessions and Breakout Sessions to reflect on different aspects of the Eucharist led by about 150 guest presenters. Each evening we gathered in Lucas Oil Stadium (home of the Indianapolis Colts) for keynote presentations by some of the most inspiring Catholic speakers in our land. Each reflected on the Eucharist in unique ways, both consoling and challenging. Every night this throng of 60,000 praised and adored our Eucharistic Lord with music both contemporary and traditional—from the rockin’ melodies of Matt Maher to the mystical chant of Floriani.
On Saturday the whole crowd followed our Eucharistic Lord from the Convention Center through the streets of Indianapolis to Veterans Memorial Plaza where the risen Jesus reigned over the crowd. Bishop Andrew Cozzens reflected in prayer how we are a pilgrim people, advancing the kingdom of God into the secular world as we follow Jesus on the way to heaven.
And the closing Mass on Sunday was a glimpse of heaven. I joined the largest procession of my life with hundreds of religious men and women, seminarians, deacons, priests, bishops and cardinals. We gathered around the altar with the rest of the Body of Christ, like 60,000 pilgrims entering heaven. We sang hymns of praise accompanied by the Indiana Symphony Orchestra and a large choir. Numerous times throughout the liturgy I felt the Lord’s touch, especially after Holy Communion. As I shut my eyes, I felt serenaded by the choir of angels and saints as the Bridegroom and His Bride celebrated their wedding feast. I didn’t want the Mass to end.
But the Papal Delegate, Luis Cardinal Tagle, sent us all forth with the Pope’s blessing: “Go! Don’t stay here. Go forth and be Eucharistic Missionaries!” This was a theme that pervaded the whole Congress. We were encouraged to accompany one person closer to Jesus through the campaign, “Each One Reach One.” There are approximately 70 million Catholics in the United States, about ¼ of the population. Imagine if each one of us reached out to one person and helped accompany them to Jesus in the Eucharist. We can affect a cultural change. We can advance the kingdom of God one person at a time.
As we follow Jesus on our way to heaven, let us pray for the grace to reach out to the people who are not yet in our procession. May we be so transformed by our Eucharistic Lord that He draws other people to Himself through us. He is the bread of life for which we all hunger; and “whoever eats this bread will live forever” (John 6: 51).
Your loving shepherd, Fr. Ernest Bayer
*(The miraculous feeding of the crowd is described six times in the four gospels, more than any other miracle. Matthew 14: 13-21; 15: 32-39; Mark 6: 32-44; 8: 1-10; Luke 9: 10-17; John 6: 1-15.)