BY Tom Thomas –
Looking through the Gospel of Mathew as part of a Bible study exercise, I was struck that the multiplication of loaves is given twice in Mt 14:13-21 and in Mt 15:32-19. There seems to be similarity and dissimilarity in these accounts.
In the first account, five thousand are fed, while in the second account, four thousand are fed. In the first account, five loaves and two fish are blessed and multiplied while in the second, seven loaves and a few small fish are multiplied. In both cases, the miracles were worked after a period of teaching in a desolate place, and when Jesus had given the spiritual food, He was conscious of the physical needs – hunger – of the crowds and had compassion for them. He made them sit on the ground and blessed what was available and multiplied the same.
It is noteworthy that both accounts mention only the men, if women and children were counted too, it would probably be much more. After feeding them spiritually and physically, He departs from the place, leaving them nourished for their life’s journey.
The replica of these accounts of the multiplication is also found in Mk 6: 31-44 and Mk 8: 1-9. Lk 9:12-17 and Jn 6: 1-15 also mention this miracle. It is significant that all four gospels mention this miracle while Mt and Mk repeat the same twice. Are they the same event or two different events? Scholars say they are two different events, due to their subtle differences.
The miracles of multiplication also parallel our modern day Eucharistic celebration in the Mass, where the faithful are in a desolate place (the Church), and the Priest Blesses the Bread and Wine and that is distributed to the faithful after transubstantiation into the Body and Blood of Jesus.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1335 says, “The miracles of the multiplication of the loaves when the Lord says the blessing, breaks and distributes the loaves through his disciples to feed the multitude, prefigure the superabundance of this unique bread of his Eucharist. The sign of water turned into wine at Cana already announces the Hour of Jesus’ glorification. It makes manifest the fulfillment of the wedding feast in the Father’s kingdom, where the faithful will drink the new wine that has become the Blood of Christ.”
The miracles were worked only when what was available was offered to the Lord. If the disciples had kept the seemingly tiny quantity of loaves of bread and fish they had from the Lord, the same could not have been multiplied and fed many. We can infer from this miracle that we too must not hold back whatever talents we have, no matter how insignificant they might seem to us. If we are to keep what we have for our benefit only, that would not help the many others who are in need. We must offer what we have to the Lord and He will multiply that and nourish us in a far greater manner for the common good than if we were to keep it for ourselves. Not only, once but He does it, again and again, every day for us in the Eucharist, when we offer whatever we have to Him.
St. Francis of Assisi used to admonish his brothers, (referring to the Eucharist) “Look, brothers, at the humility of God and pour out your hearts before Him. Therefore, hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves so that He Who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally” (Francis’ Letter to the Entire Order)
In ending, it is worthwhile reflecting on this quote:
“In the humble signs of bread and wine, changed into his Body and Blood, Christ walks beside us as our strength and our food for the journey, and he enables us to become, for everyone, witnesses of hope.” — St John Paul II Ecclesia de Eucharistia, April 17, 2003.