εὐαγγελίζω (euaggelizo)
“to announce the Good News of victory in battle”
“to announce the Good News of victory in battle”
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus
nor His disciples were there,
they themselves got into boats
and came to Capernaum
looking (ζητοῦντες, zetountes) for Jesus.
And when they found Him
across the sea they said to him,
“Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered them and said,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
you are looking (ζητεῖτέ, zeteite)
for Me not because you saw signs (σημεῖα, semeia)
but because you ate the loaves and were filled.”
nor His disciples were there,
they themselves got into boats
and came to Capernaum
looking (ζητοῦντες, zetountes) for Jesus.
And when they found Him
across the sea they said to him,
“Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered them and said,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
you are looking (ζητεῖτέ, zeteite)
for Me not because you saw signs (σημεῖα, semeia)
but because you ate the loaves and were filled.”
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
θεωρέω (theoreo)
(“to perceive, discover, ponder a deeper meaning”)
(“to perceive, discover, ponder a deeper meaning”)
When we left the crowd last week, Jesus fed them with meager portions of food that were transformed into an abundance when He “took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them.” As the episode unfolded, the crowd’s intention was to find Jesus because of the “signs” He was performing for the sick. Jesus’ intention, however, was not to be the object of their search but mercifully to feed them. (see Mark 6:34, Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time). While the crowd sang His praises as a prophet, Jesus rejected such and withdrew to the solitude of the mountain. Shortly thereafter He walked on water to Capernaum (John 6:15-23) thus setting the stage for the next event in the Bread of Life discourse. While subtle, it is apparent that the crowd was on one page, Jesus was on another. The crowd intended one course of action, Jesus intended a different one.
The Gospel proclamation this Sunday opens with the crowd frantically searching for Jesus by getting into boats when they realize Jesus moved on from the place of the Feeding. When the crowds ‘find’ Jesus, He confronts them: “you are looking (ζητεῖτέ, zeteite) for Me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.”
The Gospel proclamation this Sunday opens with the crowd frantically searching for Jesus by getting into boats when they realize Jesus moved on from the place of the Feeding. When the crowds ‘find’ Jesus, He confronts them: “you are looking (ζητεῖτέ, zeteite) for Me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.”
As far as Jesus is concerned, the Feeding is a σημεῖα (semeia, “sign”) and in view of a sign one must decide a particular course of action. (recall last week’s discussion of σημεῖα) One might argue that the crowd chose a course of action: they searched for Jesus. But were they really looking for Him? Jesus declared that the crowd was not looking for Him, but for the food He provided. Understandably, one can see where the crowd is on the matter of this abundant food. Life in general and the economy specifically were very difficult in first-century Galilee. While some made a good living on the sea, others did not know when or where they would eat next. But as far as Jesus is concerned, the sign of the Feeding requires a particular decision and the decision has little to do with having a full stomach. Once again, the crowd is on one page, Jesus is on another.
The point is underscored further by the use of the Greek verb ζητεω (zeteo). ζητεω, translated in this Sunday’s text as “to seek,” implies more than just looking around for something lost. In contemporary usage, ‘searching’ is practically synonymous with ‘googling’ and tends to be about pieces of data or information. In antiquity, ζητεω (zeteo) was used in reference to people being lost or found — a sense of being lost or found in the living of life, having or loosing a sense of purpose, destiny or direction in life. ζητεω (zeteo) does not necessarily refer to a physical loss or find when referencing people, it speaks more about the connection, the relationship, the link people have with one another and how those connections, links and relationship can be lost and hopefully found.
But even more noteworthy, ζητεω (zeteo) involves searching for the other, on the other’s terms! Yes, this sounds circular and confusing, after all how can you search, guided by the other’s terms, when you are not connected to the other person? Enter Jesus and the signs He performs. When the crowd initially searched for Him, they sought One Who brought a physical cure to a sick man. The crowd saw this chronically suffering man and what Jesus did for him and therefore concluded Jesus is a Healer. For Jesus, however, not so fast. Was the man restored to health? Yes. Is Jesus a healer? Yes. Does healing describe the totality of Who Jesus is? No - and this is the point of the sign. Jesus intends the sign to draw people into communion (in the Gospel according to Saint John communing is the act of believing) with Him. Such believing, though, must happen on Jesus’ terms.
Saint Augustine commented: “It is as if he said, “You seek me to satisfy the flesh, not the Spirit.” How many seek Jesus for no other objective than to get some kind of temporal benefit! One has a business that has run into problems, and he seeks the intercession of the clergy; another is oppressed by someone more powerful than himself, and he flies to the church. Another desires intervention with someone over whom he has little influence. One person wants this, and another person wants that. The church is filled with these kinds of people! Jesus is scarcely sought after for his own sake. Here too he says, you seek me for something else; seek me for my own sake. He insinuates the truth that He Himself is that food “that endures to eternal life.”” (Tractates on the Gospel of John)
Certainly there is much that speaks this Sunday to the heart of living as Jesus’ disciple. At the very heart of discipleship is the encounter with the Person, Jesus Christ. That encounter initially requires 2 response actions: metanoia (the ongoing, daily conversion of heart, mind and body from selfishness to selflessness as lived by Jesus) and believing that Who Jesus is as well as what He says and does is THE only way to live life. In so doing, life unfolds in the mode of response — acting based on the fact that “I” do not search for Jesus. “I” let myself be found by Jesus on His terms and then respond by living life marked by daily conversion and believing. Such an approach to living lessens the possibility of creating a ‘comfortable Jesus’ that is synonymous with mere niceness. Being found by Jesus and responding properly displaces ‘me-centered entitlement’ and opens the horizons of a Divinely animated and abundant life to which I can only respond: ‘thank you — and — how may I serve sacrificially and joyfully in Your Name?’
