Jesus’ initial reaction to the arrival of the crowds is to welcome them, teach them and cure those in need of healing.
There is no suggestion that the people concerned are actually hungry and the episode can be read, as all the “miracle” stories can be understood, as symbolic, that is, that there is a deeper meaning to these actions of Jesus. The mention of twelve baskets reinforces this idea.
The way in which we refer to this incident is important: it is better to describe it as “the feeding of the crowds” rather than “the multiplication of the loave”. The latter phrase concentrates on the “miraculous” aspect of the event, but the New Testament uses the expression “works of power”, emphasising that this is the power, the kingdom of God breaking into the lives of people in need. The scriptural background to this story is God’s providing food for the people of Israel during their journey through the wilderness from Egypt to the Promised Land: there is a hint about this in the disciples’ remark to Jesus that “we are in a desert place here”, rather than “a lonely place” as our text renders it. Jesus is thus echoing God’s concern by providing food for the people, and the disciples share in his ministry by distributing the bread to those present, who number five thousand men: interestingly, in his account of the same incident, Matthew adds “to say nothing of women and children”.
We might note how Luke describes Jesus’ actions: he takes the bread, says the blessing, breaks it and gives it: this is the language we find used at the Last Supper in connection with the institution of the Eucharist. The feeding of the crowds foreshadows the institution of the Eucharist, which, in its turn, anticipates the banquet in the final Messianic kingdom.
Previous Sunday Messages
REFLECT
It is easy to become preoccupied with how this event took place: there are some plausible rationalisations which explain away the “miraculous” element and reduce it to an act of sharing on the part of the people present: some might suggest that that would be an even greater miracle. But we have to ask ourselves: “What does the account mean?” rather than “Did it actually happen?” or “How did it happen?”
Perhaps we might concentrate on the idea of Jesus nourishing the people who have come to him. It is important to keep in mind that none of the four Gospel accounts of this incident states that those present were actually hungry. In our celebration of the Eucharist, we see connections with the feeding in the two parts, word and sacrament. Jesus nourishes our mind, our faith and understanding of what it means for our everyday lives in the light of the word of God: hence preaching is a grave responsibility for those concerned. We are further sustained by receiving Jesus into ourselves in the form of bread and wine. This presence of Jesus in the consecrated bread and wine is the focus
of today’s feast.
learn
- The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle story recorded in all four Gospels.
- It is Jesus who provides bread for the people in the desert (lonely) place, just as God did for Israel in their journey through the wilderness.
- The feast of Corpus Christi was one of the most popular celebrations with processions of the Blessed Sacrament.
- This feast was the lay version of Holy Thursday, which also celebrated the institution of the priesthood.
do
As you receive Holy Communion, renew your belief that you are actually welcoming Jesus into your very self.