Reading for February 16th

 Read John 6.1-21. In 6.1-71: The quest for eternal life and the bread of life. In verses 1-15: Feeding the crowd. Compare Mt 14.13-21; Mk 6.30-44; Lk 9.10-17. In verse 1: The narrative might be more straightforward if ch 6 followed chapter 4 (ch 5 is set in Jerusalem). Jesus' movement is not from Jerusalem (from the south) but presumably from Cana, on the west) to the other (eastern) side of the Sea of Galilee,  also named Sea of Tiberias after the city of that name , built in 20 CE in honor of Tiberias Caesar. the theme, however, follows from the search for eternal life in 5.39-40. In verse 2: The initiative of the crowd is stressed (4.46-54, see also 2.23). In verse 3: He retreats to a unnamed mountain to escape the crowd (compare 6.15). In verse 4: The connection to Passover is crucial for the story and following discourse. In verses 5-10: Dialogues are characteristic of John (compare 1.40-45; 12.21-11). Philip reveals the magnitude of the task; Andrew's unlikely solution shows the magnitude of the sign. Barley loaves, the food of the poor (see kings 4.42-44). In verses 11-13: Jesus' action of taking the loaves, giving thanks, and distributing them looks Eucharistic but doe as not mention "breaking" (Eucharistic" is derived from the word translated he had given thanks. But Jesus also gave thanks for the fish. Gather up fragment: The sign was more than adequate. twelve baskets: probably the twelve had each (see 6.67, 70, 71). In verses 14-15: The people attempt to make Jesus king. Josephus tells of leaders who offer sign of coming deliverance in the desert. In verses 16-21: Sea Crossing 9Mt 14.22-27; Mk 6.45-52). The journey reinforces Jesus' rejection of the attempt to make him king and reveals the disciples' fearfulness and Jesus' control over nature. Comments or Questions..