To read the texts click on the texts: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Eph 4:1-6; Jn 6:1-15
The miracle of the
feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fish in which twelve
baskets are gathered and which is the Gospel text of today is the only miracle
that Jesus worked that is found in all four Gospels (Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:35-44;
Lk 9:10-17). While each evangelist narrates it slightly different from the
others, the numbers that are used are the same in all four Gospels.
A variety of explanations
have been offered as to what really happened. While some think that there was a
miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fish, though it cannot be explained
how, others think that when people saw Jesus and disciples sharing the little
they had, they were also motivated to share their own food with others. Still
others give a sacramental explanation to the miracle. There is no need to deny
the historicity of the miracle, simply because we have never witnessed a
miraculous multiplication of food. At the same time, however, the literal,
historical miracle of Jesus on this occasion is full of ongoing and important
significance for John’s community and for us, and thus it is necessary to go
beyond what happened to understand the import and meaning of the miracle.
There are several aspects
of the miracle that are exclusive to John and these serve to bring out clearly
the meaning as John may have intended. It is only in the Gospel of John that
there is a reference to the Passover and this serves to bring to mind the
Exodus. This is made even more explicit when Jesus instructs his disciples to
gather up the fragments so that nothing may be lost, much like Moses asked the
people not to leave any manna around after they had eaten. While in the
Synoptic Gospels Jesus says the blessing over the bread; in John he “gives
thanks”. This serves to emphasize the Eucharistic element of the miracle and
the discourse on the Bread of Life that follows.
Although it may be seen
as the supernatural provision for the physical hunger of a large crowd on a
specific occasion, the miracle is much more than just that. Indeed, it is a
deed filled with symbolism at more than one level. The primary symbolism is that
of messianic provision, which both points to the reality of present fulfillment
and foreshadows the blessings that will continue to flow in the future. This
provision takes place in the wilderness, just as manna was provided in the
wilderness. Jesus is the messianic provider. He is the Bread of Life. People go
away from his presence healed and filled. The miracle typifies the full and
complete blessing of humanity in the meeting of human need and the experience
of ultimate well-being, universal shalom or wholeness.
The feeding of the
multitude is thus the harbinger of good news for people of every era. God is
not far away and aloof from us. God is not simply a God up there in heaven.
Jesus shows us that God is right here with us, beside us in our broken and
troubled and suffering world. It is an indication to all peoples who dare to
see and experience that the Messiah is in their midst.
Not only will God offer
bread but also the choicest of gifts and these will be given freely and
gratuitously. These will be in abundance just as at the feeding of the five
thousand. There will be enough and more. God gives them freely because of his
unconditional love, shown in a variety of ways to the people of Israel. As he
provided manna to them in the desert, he also provided bread to them through
the prophets as narrated in the first reading of today. However, this love was
shown in the most perfect way in and through the sending of his Son, Jesus
Christ. In doing so he provided not only for their physical needs, but ensured
that every human need was sated in Jesus Christ.
This does not mean, of
course, that those who believe in Jesus will have no problems or needs. But it
does mean that God will give us the grace and aid to bear whatever load may
befall us. Ours is not a faith of easy answers and unrealistic solutions, but
Jesus lived and died for us, showing us that in whatever we experience, in
whatever may trouble us, in whatever distress or threat we feel, we need not
fear, because God is in it with us. God will give us what we need to make it
through.
This is the perseverance
and courage to which the second reading of today calls the Ephesians and us.
Like the disciples of Jesus, we sometimes find that our care and compassion is
limited to prayer and good wishes. Like the disciples we wish people well but
have no intention of taking positive action to actually help them. And, again
like the disciples, what prevents us from taking positive action is often the
realistic assessment that the little we are able to do is not really going to
make any big difference.
But in the gospel, we are
challenged to see that when we translate our care and compassion into positive
action, the little we are able to do is multiplied by God’s grace in such a way
that it becomes more than sufficient for the need. In whatever crisis or issue
we face in life, in whatever trouble may come our way, the power of God’s love
will provide what we need.
