"My heart is moved with pity for the crowd"
The Gospel passage from Matthew this Wednesday morning brings to light a common scriptural interpretation of the "miracle" of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Matthew does not tell us how many people there are in the crowd that "have been with me (Jesus) now for three days . . ." but Luke does; 5,000 men, not counting women and children. The point made is that the ratio between the food available and the number of hungry, thirsty and tired people assembled was way out of proportion. They had just witnessed multiple healings and were amazed by what they saw so they knew this teacher and wonder worker was different than anyone they had met.
Yet, many scholars, and scriptural theorists, have speculated about the miraculous nature of this story. I frankly have as well but don't we look with some skepticism at such claimed events? Imagine you were not there but a family member had been. They return and tell you, "Plenty of bread and fish came from Jesus yet we know that there was practically nothing available! It's a miracle!" "Hmmm . . ." you might logically wonder.
Did food, an abundance of bread and fish, just appear out of thin air or was the real miracle the fact that, though tired and hungry, the crowds shared what little they had with others? The second part of that question is what is proposed by some. Yet, it doesn't make sense. If all there was is 7 loaves of bread and a few fish it would have been impossible to feed the thousands before Jesus.
The bottom line is that what happened in that isolated location, high up on hills around the Sea of Galilee, was miraculous. The only conclusion would be to say, "Yes," more bread and more fish became available through the word of Jesus to feed the hungry crowds. In compassionate response, Jesus made more food available and the crowds were fed, satisfied and more was left over - Messianic abundance.
One of the signs of the Messiah is abundance: the people have scarce but in the presence of the anointed one, more than enough will be given. Hence, a miracle did take place and the reaction of the crowds in Luke testifies that they chased Jesus afterwards, despite his effort to go off and pray alone, in order to have more. For the early Christians and it continues to be an indication of the presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. The sacramental presence of Jesus under the signs of bread and wine, his Body and Blood, will never be outdone. The divine action that takes place silently and invisibly to our eyes, is nonetheless true as a matter of faith conviction. Jesus feeds us with himself as the food as he fed the hungry crowds with his word and his presence.
So, in Advent this year it may be a good thing to renew your faith in the Eucharist. When attending Mass, you may want to imagine the crowds on the hillside and the vision of Jesus feeding them. Now don't get so distracted you loose your place but the point is that what we receive from the altar is even more than what the crowd was given.
Our Lord sees our spiritual hunger and thirst for him and offers us himself; his very Body and Blood for our food and drink. How could we ever be hungry again?
Lord feed us with your Word and your Body
so that we may never hunger for you again.
Give us the strength of commitment this
Advent, Christmas and throughout
the new year that we will always
come to your feast each week.
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