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Ordinary Time · Year B

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 25, 2027

The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, Jacopo Tintoretto
The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, Jacopo Tintoretto, c. 1545–1550Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Tintoretto spreads the crowd across a hillside in sharply receding groups, so the eye runs back through the feeding rather than sitting in front of it.It is the feeding, and Tintoretto painted the distribution rather than the blessing.Jacopo TintorettoA Venetian who worked at enormous speed and scale, and who reportedly wrote on his studio wall that he wanted Titian's colour and Michelangelo's drawing.Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkThe largest art museum in the Americas, founded in 1870 by a group of New Yorkers who wanted one and had no collection to start from.Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 6:1-15Jn 6:1-15
Second ReadingEph. 4:1-6Eph 4:1-6
First Reading2 Kings 4:42-442 Kgs 4:42-44
Responsorial PsalmPs. 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18 (cf. 16)Ps 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18 (cf. 16)

Overview & Insights

“Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated.” (John 6:11)

The indefinite connecting phrase some time after this (v. 1; cf. 5:1) introduces a narrative that abruptly locates Jesus in Galilee, crossing from one side of Lake Galilee to the other.

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Take it further: John 6:1-15

Commentary

Commentary on John 6:1-21Commentary on Jn 6:1-21 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary exegesis of the feeding sign and the crowd's response to Jesus.

John 6: Feeding the Five ThousandJn 6: Feeding the Five Thousand Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical commentary on the whole chapter.

John 6 CommentaryJn 6 Commentary Precept Austin

A deep gathering of quotations, word studies, and cross references worked verse by verse.

John 6:1 CommentariesJn 6:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries on the feeding of the five thousand in one place.

Barnes' Notes on John 6Barnes' Notes on Jn 6 StudyLight

Albert Barnes' notes on the whole chapter of John 6.

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

Dr. Brant Pitre opens the day's readings from a Catholic scholar, linking the feeding sign to the Eucharist and to Elisha's multiplied loaves.

Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B, Sunday Connection Loyola Press · Sunday Connection

Catholic background, reflection questions, and family prayer for the Sunday's readings.

Background & Word Study

Gospel of John 1-12 OverviewGospel of Jn 1-12 Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of the first half of John, including the signs of Jesus.

John 6:1 Greek InterlinearJn 6:1 Greek Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers for the feeding sign.

The Church Fathers

Catena on John 6Catena on Jn 6 Catena

Patristic and medieval comments compiled verse by verse for John 6.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

A curated image index for the readings of the day across the history of Christian art.

Study Hub

The Text This Week: Proper 12 B Textweek

A curated index of commentary, art, and sermons for the feeding of the five thousand across traditions (a few links may be dated).

Questions preachers ask

What does the feeding of the five thousand reveal?

From five barley loaves and two fish Jesus feeds a multitude with twelve baskets left over, a sign of the bread of life he will give, read on Laetare Sunday in the historic lectionary.

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