Readings: Is. 55:1-3; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21
Give Them Some Food Yourselves.
1. The readings of today can be explained from many angles. We can see it as the foretaste of the heavenly banquet, demonstrated by the first reading from the book of Isaiah. The banquet is used here as an image to describe God’s care for humanity. This banquet is given freely, and humanity is invited to partake of it. This is salvation offered by God as a free gift. “Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” It is an offer of the food that God alone gives, “Eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” God’s nourishing work calls for attentiveness and receptivity. Though this gift is free, it demands discipline. “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me.” Paying attention to God’s instruction is what will truly satisfy our hearts. “Listen, so that you may live.”
2. The gospel on the other hand presents us with the feeding of the five thousand men, women and children, not counted. The multiplication of the loaves itself can be interpreted in many ways. We may see the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves as a sacrament. In that case those present only received the smallest morsel of food, say just a bite, and yet with that they were strengthened for their journey home. For them, this wouldn’t be just a mere meal to feed their physical appetite, but a spiritual food of Christ. This miracle then is re-enacted daily during the Eucharistic celebration of the Mass. This would be the food that Jesus talks about when he said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (Jn. 6:51). This living bread, the viaticum, is the food for the journey. It will enable us to walk with firmer feet and greater strength on the way that leads us to God.
3. Apart from these interpretations, I want to consider another dimension, if you don’t mind. At the beginning of this story, we heard that the death of John the Baptist was reported to Jesus. On hearing this news, he withdrew to a deserted place to be alone. As a human being, Jesus needed rest. He would never recklessly run into trouble therefore, he withdrew, lest the blood-thirsty Herod may seek for his head as well. Of course, he knew that his own death on the cross was imminent, hence he needed peace and quiet to commune with God. He was seeking rest for his body and strength for his soul in the lonely place. It was in this context that hospitality embraced compassion and one of the greatest miracles of love, kindness, healing and mercy was acted out on the theatre on the shore of the lake of Galilee. We are told, “When he had disembarked, he saw a great crowd, and he was moved with compassion for them to the depths of his being and healed their sick.” He did not see the people as a nuisance and too demanding of his time. He, instead, was moved with compassion for the people. How often do we complain that we are doing too much for our family, for our church or in our places of work? How often do we resent our children or spouses for being too demanding of our time? Jesus tells us today, that we can achieve much more with compassion that with whining and complaining about everyone and everything. May we always demonstrate to everyone that God cares for them and that we are only instruments used by God to achieve his purpose in their lives.
4. I want to look at the disciples’ reaction to the compassion of Jesus. It is like they were disappointed that the people had robbed them of the wonderful opportunity to spend quiet time with their master. So, having healed them, they felt it was time they left. They told Jesus: “The place is deserted, and the hour of the evening meal has already passed. Send the crowds away in order that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” The disciples seem to have forgotten that they too were instruments of God’s care for the people. Did they come between the love of God and the people? Were they perhaps trying to separate the people from the love of God, when they asked Jesus to dismiss the crowd? Did they think that Christ did not know what to do? So, Christ reminded them that there was no need for the crowd to go away. He told them rather, “Give them some food yourselves.”
5. Jesus knew what to do, but he clearly wanted the disciples to be part of his compassionate mission to the crowd. The disciple is helpless without the master, and the master needs the disciple for his mission. We cannot say that there is nothing we can do to help the suffering masses of our world. If we call on the Lord, he will show us the way. Jesus will use what we have, to bring about a change and transformation in people’s lives. The disciples told Jesus that they only had five loaves and two fish and Jesus knew he had enough to feed the people. There was contribution, there was participation, there was cooperation and there was partnership between the disciples and Jesus. With that, a miracle was possible. Christ does not request the impossible from us; he wants us to come to him with what we have, however ill-equipped, he wants us to give to him what we have, no matter how little, and he will use it greatly for his service. Little is always much in his hands. Never say, I have nothing to give, trust that God will use what you give, if you give with your whole heart.
6. There is another way to consider this parable. Was it really possible that the crowd did not bring food from home as they embarked on the journey to meet Christ? That was most unlikely. Could it be that some indeed had food, but were selfish to share with others? This was possible. It is likely that those who brought food, would have to share with those who did not have, hence they pretended that they had nothing. It could be that when Jesus shared the five loaves and two fishes brought to him with a blessing, invitation and a smile, it prompted others to do the same, and before long, everyone was sharing, until all had enough and more to go around. That will be a true miracle, indeed! This, therefore, was a miracle of changing of selfish people into generous people at the touch of Christ. It was the miracle of the birth of love in grudging hearts. It was the miracle of change men and women with something of Christ in them to banish their selfishness. They were able to give freely because they realized that all they had was a gift from God. Since nothing would separate them from the love of God, they trusted God and gave freely as Jesus gave them of his time, his rest and his love. When we love others as God loves us, love goes around, but when keep what we have to ourselves, we become truly impoverished. May God teach us to give of ourselves to others without counting the cost. Let us pray with St. Francis. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.
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