The multitude marveled

Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Then great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and he healed them. So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

Now Jesus called his disciples to himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." Then his disciples said to him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?" Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish." So he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to his disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. And he sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.

- Matthew 15:29-39

In yesterday's reading, Jesus encountered a Canaanite woman in the region of Tyre and Sidon, a land of Gentiles. She requested of Jesus that he heal her daughter, who was possessed by a demon. With a feisty encounter, Jesus tested the woman's persistence - even though his disciples asked him to send her away. Her faith in Christ was great, and she continued to ask for what she knew he could offer her, and we are told that "she worshiped him." She is considered, in effect, the first of the Gentile church. In today's reading, Jesus continues his travels in Gentile territory. We recall that Matthew's gospel is considered to have been written with a Jewish audience in mind.

My study bible notes on the first paragraph above: "Jesus immediately bestows healing on other Gentiles as well, repeating what had been done among Jews (9:1-8, 27-33), so the God of Israel (v.31) might be glorified. Though Jesus focused on Jews, he taught and healed all who came to him, thus transcending racial distinctions and prejudices." In yesterday's reading, the woman was tested by Jesus in terms of her Gentile status. Jesus has told her that he came for the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." She recognized his status as the Jewish Messiah (calling him "Lord" and "Son of David"), and eventually he granted what she desired, for her daughter to be healed. So, today, we are given a picture of this Messiah, sent to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" who has expanded his ministry to include all those who recognize him, worship him, understand what and who he is. Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Then great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and he healed them. On the mountaintop (as so many of the great scenes of the gospels take place on mountaintops, such as the Transfiguration, Ascension and the preaching of the Sermon on the Mount), Jesus receives the Gentiles who come to him. As always, his mission is essentially one of healing: all are reconciled to God and in this is healing on every level for what ails us. So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. This is messianic status, these are messianic acts as predicted by Isaiah. They glorify "the God of Israel." All recognize this Messiah of the Jews and are united in him.

Now Jesus called his disciples to himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." Then his disciples said to him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?" As before, those who follow Jesus, who have great faith in him, are those upon whom he has expresses his compassion. They have been with him "three days and have nothing to eat." As before, Jesus does not want to send them away hungry, and the disciples wonder how this multitude could be fed.

Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish." So he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to his disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. As before, they start with what they have. It is enough. " Seven loaves and a few little fish." My study bible notes here: "This passage recounts a second feeding of a crowd, this one including many Gentiles (see 14:13-21). Again this may be connected to the Eucharist. This is another sign of Jesus' deity, for he created new matter which had not before existed -- an attribute of God alone." This eucharistic feast is now inclusive of and extended to all of those who will come to him, recognize him, understand him, and truly desire what he has to offer.

So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. And he sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala. And, once again, there is more than enough - seven large baskets full of fragments are left. "Life in abundance" is the message - the daily bread, a spiritual food that serves all of our nature and all that we are, is distributed freely to those who come to him, who desire and recognize his true Person. Once they are fed, he sends them away and continues his travels around the Sea of Galilee, into the region of Magdala. (For an understanding of where he is going, see this map. "Magdala" is the place called in Greek Taricheae on the map.)

So our Jewish Messiah is now worshiped in Gentile territory, and his healings and feedings take place also among Gentiles. This is a great expansion of his church, and the reality of the future, when his apostles will go among all people preaching his gospel. It is not a denial of his roots nor his mission, just as today Jewish scripture and spirituality form a basis for our understanding of Christianity and Christ's mission and teachings. But what does it mean that the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" have been expanded to include Gentiles; that is, all people -- as my study bible puts it, "transcending racial distinctions and prejudices?" The people of God, or Israel, is now expanded beyond those racial distinctions and prejudices. Again, as previously noted in commentary, we get a doubling effect in Matthew. What has been done among the Jews is now done among the Gentiles. The common thread is faith, an understanding of who Jesus is - as the Messiah of the Jews - and worship. This is what we must remember as the great refining thread common to all people who become a part of this Church, who receive his healing. What healing do you receive today, and how does it come to you? What is the "one thing necessary" to make this connection of faith? In yesterday's reading, we read of the Canaanite woman who was so persistent in her prayer, in her seeking contact and communion with Christ. The people who are fed in today's reading are those who have followed him up to the mountain, and remained with him for three days. Devotion and persistence are the hallmarks of those who seek so deeply and truly what Christ has to offer. Start with your prayer, and do the same - and remember that no other requirement is demanded.