And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes

 

 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.  But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.  And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.  When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late.  Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."  But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."  He said, "Bring them here to Me."  Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass.  And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.  So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.  Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. 

 

- Matthew 14:13-21 

 

Yesterday we read that about that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."  For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philips's wife.  Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."  And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.  But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.  Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.  So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter."  And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.  So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.  And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.  Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.  

 

  When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.  But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.  And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.  When Jesus heard it is a reference to the knowledge coming to Jesus that now Herod the tetrarch (Herod Antipas) has begun to fear Him:  Herod believes that Jesus is John the Baptist returned from the dead, and this is the explanation for Jesus' power to heal and cast out demons.  (See yesterday's reading, above.)  Now it is the power of Rome that has taken notice of Him, a more serious and deadly power than even that of the Jewish religious authorities, and it is for this reason Jesus departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.   But although Jesus has withdrawn to a deserted place to avoid public scrutiny, He cannot be hidden.  The multitudes followed Him on foot from the cities.  And so, as often happens at significant turning points in Jesus' ministry, He is moved with compassion for these crowds.  "Moved with compassion," my study Bible notes, is used frequently concerning the Lord (Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41, 6:34; Luke 7:13).  It notes that this shows that Christ's power and authority are extended to those who suffer.  

  When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late.  Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."  But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."  He said, "Bring them here to Me."  Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass.  And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.  So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.  Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.  This miracle is reported by all four evangelists.  Here Christ feeds the great multitude of His people just as He fed the Israelites in the desert (see Exodus 16).  In patristic commentary, this is seen as an image of the Eucharist, an idea which is also made clear in John 6.  Also in patristic literature there is a spiritual interpretation given regarding the five loaves, stating that they indicate the five books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which have been broken open in Christ and thereby feed the whole universe.  In this understanding, the two fish are said to represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle Book, the teaching of the fishermen.  The gathering by the apostles of twelve baskets full of fragments that remained shows that the teachings which the faithful cannot grasp are nonetheless held in the consciousness of the Church.  

 

Let us take a closer look here at the specificity of the language:  And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, Christ blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.  Besides teaching us that we should not eat without first giving thanks to God (the meaning of the word Eucharist is to give thanks), the terminology points to the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26).  My study Bible comments that just as the disciples distribute the bread to the multitudes, so also Christ feeds the Eucharist to His flock through the hands of His bishops and presbyters.  Perhaps for us this points to something greater to notice about Christ's "signs" or miracles, also called "mighty works" in St. Matthew's Gospel.  They all point to something greater than themselves.  And in this case of the Eucharistic significance of the actions and words used to describe what happens here, this miraculous breakthrough of yet another new revelation in Christ's ministry, another significant turning point, is something tied to that which will be left for us for us all time.  This is not simply a "one-time" incident, but in the Eucharist it will be repeated over and over again through time until the end of the age.  Thereby, we should read this miracle or sign as not only connecting Christ with the Lord of the Old Testament, who fed the Israelites with manna in the wilderness, but links us all in succession within the Church to come -- for all time and from that time forward.  In these connections we observe once again how time and distance are no obstacles to the effectiveness of Christ's miracles and His power.  For each of these things ties even us into them in the Eucharist.  We are fed as the ancient Israelites were fed; our Lord is the same Lord of the Old Testament and is also present to us in Jesus Christ, and in this feeding miracle in the wilderness.  If we view the events in the Bible as simply things that happened two millennia ago, and struggle to think of how that has something to do with us, then we are looking at things the wrong way.  We fail to grasp the bigger picture that is at work here.  In Christ these things stretch back and forth to the ancient and the new, and they are renewed even in us with each new Eucharist.  For none of the elements of Christ's life and ministry, nor the gift He gives of Himself in the Eucharist, is ever lost or gone missing.  They are always present because He is always present.  Let us eat and be filled, remembering even the twelve baskets of fragments left over for the Twelve who would go out to the world bearing His gospel.  For all is present to us still, each day.  It is the gift of His compassion for us all.  We take it in remembrance of Him, until His return.

 

 

 

 

Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

 

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

 

- John 6:1-15 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus has been attending the Feast of Tabernacles, an autumn festival which commemorates the time that Israel followed Moses, dwelling in tents (tabernacles).  Jesus has been disputing with the religious leaders, who take offense at His teachings, and especially His references to the Father.  On Saturday, we read that Jesus replied to the religious leaders, "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."  Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"  Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.  And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.  Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death."  Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon!  Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.'  Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead?  And the prophets are dead.  Who do You make Yourself out to be?"  Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing.  It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.  Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him.  And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."  Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"  Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."  Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus his Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. 

 

  After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. In today's reading, we skip back to chapter 6 of John's Gospel (yesterday's reading covered the last verses in chapter 8).  If we recall, the lectionary skipped over chapter 6 earlier, so today's reading would follow this one, in order of the Gospel chapters.  In chapter 5, Jesus had healed a paralytic, and was subsequently accused of violating the Sabbath.  So, after these things, in which Jesus had engaged in disputes in Jerusalem at the Feast of Weeks, He had withdrawn with His disciples to the region of the Sea of Galilee.

 

Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  My study Bible explains that this chapter of John's Gospel parallels the story of the Passover and the Exodus of Israel from Egypt in several important ways.   These verses recall the Exodus account (Exodus 11 - 17), in which God first performed signs against Pharaoh, and then gave instructions on how to be saved at the time of the Passover (Exodus11:1-12:14).  Here, the multitude follows Christ because of His signs, and this also takes place at Passover.  

 

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"   My study Bible comments that here Christ tests Philip to increase his faith, as Philip needed help in understanding Him (see John 14:8-10).  Two hundred denarii, it says, corresponds to over six months' wages for a laborer, giving us an idea of the size of this great multitude.  Andrew has greater faith than Philip, however.  My study Bible explains that, knowing the prophet Elisha had multiplied bread for 100 men (2 Kings 4:42-44), Andrew offers the food brought by a particular lad.  Nonetheless, Andrew is still weak in faith, as he questions what a mere five loaves could do among so many.  This sets up another parallel with the Exodus story, as in the Exodus, the people ate unleavened bread because they were hastily driven out of Egypt, and had brought no provisions for themselves (Exodus 12:39).  This multitude has rushed out to see Christ, has brought no provisions. 

Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.   The feeding of this multitude (of five thousand men, and more women and children) is the fourth of seven signs reported in John's Gospel.  So central to the story of Jesus it is, that it is recorded in all four Gospels.  My study Bible comments that the description of Christ as He took the loaves, gave thanks (in Greek, ευχαριστω/eucharisto), and distributed them prefigures the celebration of the Eucharist.  

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.  My study Bible says that although Jesus had performed greater signs than this, these crowds were so desirous of an earthly Messiah that they declared Jesus to be the expected Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) only when they were filled with earthly things (see John 6:26).  Because of this misunderstanding, Jesus departed from them.  

This miracle (the feeding of five thousand men, and additional women and children as well) is reported in all four Gospels.  Its centrality to the story of Christ, and of the Christian faith, is powerful.  The prefiguring of the Eucharist is clear in this passage from John.  In the reporting of this miracle in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, we're told that Jesus was "moved with compassion" for the multitude (Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:34).  In each case, the feeding, and the giving of bread, becomes both a part of the expression of Christ's compassion, as well as a statement about who He is and what He does.  He feeds us.  It may seem somewhat ironic that we are to consider this feeding of the multitude during this midpoint time of Lent, a traditional time of fasting in the Church, in preparation for the feast of Easter, the celebration of Resurrection.  But in this story we have something exemplary to think about, and that is the detail included about how these people, fed miraculously by Jesus in the wilderness, want to force Him to become king.  This is not what He wants, it is not what His power is all about, and it is not what His mission is in the world, so He must flee from them and avoid them.  Consider it -- these are the people He's just fed, the people upon whom He took compassion.  But there is the work of faith to do, and that must divide even providing what is necessary for physical nourishment from providing what is necessary for spiritual nourishment.  For meeting physical need without providing for spirit and soul really doesn't truly provide what's necessary for human well-being, and doesn't address the fullness of what it is to be a human being, a person made in the image and likeness of God.  In Mark's Gospel, this crowd is described as being "like sheep not having a shepherd" (Mark 6:34).  But, just as it has been traditional to practice a fast during Lent from the early centuries of the Church, it is important that we understand what it is hunger and thirst, not simply for physical food, but for what  Christ offers us as the Good Shepherd that He is.  He feeds us with spiritual food, but the spiritual life is not at all separate from the fullness of our human life; in a distorted world, we believe our spiritual and physical well-being to be separate things, or that we can simply forget about one or the other.  But in the Christian purview, this is not so.  We need what Christ has to offer, just as we need food -- and in fact, the spiritual nourishment from Christ is an indispensable part of life, for it feeds and informs all the rest of life, including what we do with our physical resources, even how we may think of food.  For everything becomes blessed in Christ, just as He blesses the loaves ("gives thanks" to God; in the Greek eucharisto), and then they are multiplied through God's grace and power, and distributed.  Lent, in the historical practice of the Church, becomes a time when we can consider how powerfully we need God's grace to infuse our lives, to teach us what properly to do with our abundance -- even physical abundance and wealth -- and how to structure all that we have.  For we truly cannot live well without this, and there is so much, in a modern world, that we take for granted which comes from Christ.  This remains so although we may have lost sight historically just what benefit these Gospels and His teachings have meant for the world.  Why is it we honor compassion, for example?  How is Christ's power different from the power of Caesar?  Why is it significant that although He could feed a multitude, He did not desire to become a king?  What is the message of this Shepherd of His people?  Lent is a time when we can separate for a time from the abundance of "good things" that excite our appetites from the good things we get from Christ, and from faith.  We are invited to consider the spiritual food that accompanies life, and how powerfully that also may influence us, move us, heal us.  The twelve baskets full of leftover fragments symbolize for us that which will be taken up by the Twelve Apostles, to distribute to the world.  Let us understand that we continue to be fed with good things, even -- and maybe especially -- when we pass through our own wildernesses.  He remains the Shepherd, for the lost, and for all of us.

And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd

 

 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.  And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."  For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.  So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.  But the multitudes saw them departing and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities.  They arrived before them and came together to Him.  And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  So He began to teach them many things.  When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.  Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat."  But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"  But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have?  Go and see."  And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."  Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.  And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.  So they all ate and were filled.  And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.  Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.  Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.  And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

 

- Mark 6:30–46 

 

Yesterday we read that, while on their first apostolic mission, the twelve cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.  Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known.  And he said, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."  Others said, "It is Elijah."  And others said, "It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets."  But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!"  For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her.  Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."  Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him.  And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.  Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.  And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you."  He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask em, I will give you, up to half my kingdom."  So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?"  And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!"  Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."  And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.  Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought.  And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.  When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.   

 

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.  And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."  For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.  So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.   The apostles have just returned from their first apostolic mission (see Tuesday's reading).  My study Bible says that Christ gives rest to His disciples to show those engaged in preaching and teaching that they mustn't labor continuously, but also take rest.  This is especially an important lesson in a busy modern world, where "time-saving" devices overall work (according to economic historians) to give us less free time than in the past.  We must intentionally take time out for prayer and rest.

But the multitudes saw them departing and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities.  They arrived before them and came together to Him.  And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  So He began to teach them many things.  Again, Mark's Gospel emphasizes the swift growth of Christ's ministry (especially in this particular part of Galilee where He is already well-known to the multitudes), so much so that now the people follow Him and anticipate where He'll be, so they arrived before them.  Note how Christ was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  This is a key phrase in the Gospels, for us to understand the perspective of Christ and also His work in this world.  As the good Shepherd, He initial impulse is to teach them many things.  

When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.  Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat."  But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"  But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have?  Go and see."  And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."  Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.  And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.  So they all ate and were filled.  And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.  Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.   Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.  And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.  My study Bible comments that this miracle, which is reported by all four evangelists, shows Jesus feeding a great multitude of His people as He fed the Israelites in the desert (see Exodus 16).  In patristic commentary, this is seen as an image of the Eucharist, an idea made clear to all in John 6.   Here, Christ breaks and blesses the loaves similarly to the language used of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26).  My study Bible comments that just as the disciples distribute the bread to this multitude, so Christ feeds the Eucharist to His flock through the hands of His bishops and presbyters. There is another miracle in Mark 8:1-9, in which Jesus feeds four thousand people with seven loaves and a few small fish.  There are those modern scholars who have attempted to say that they are the same story, but the witness of the gospel makes very clear they are two distinct accounts.  Christ Himself refers to both of them as separate incidents in Mark 8:13-21.  Again, this is another extension of Christ's compassion extended to the people who are "like sheep not having a shepherd" (see also Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13).  My study Bible says that this shows that His power and authority are extended to those who suffer.  It also present another, spiritual interpretation of this feeding miracles, in which the five loaves indicate the five books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which are broken open in Christ and therefore feed the universe.  In this understanding the two fish represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle Book, the teaching of the fishermen.  The gathering of the leftovers by the apostles, it says, shows that the teachings the faithful are unable to grasp are nonetheless held in the consciousness of the Church.  Let us note at the end of today's passage how Jesus still takes time to pray, departing from the mountain alone to do so.

What is always striking to me in the Gospels and the ministry of Christ is how we are repeatedly taught, in so many ways, that God works through small things.  What appears to us to be broken, or not quite good enough (even highly inadequate) is seen with different "eyes" in the mind of God.  Because God works through things with God's power, what God sees about the world is the capacity for that power and grace to work through small things, which may appear to us even to be defective.  This is the God of promises and surprises, the God of miracles.  Here Christ begins with whatever the disciples and those in this makeshift crowd, who've run to meet Christ as He tried to get away to a deserted place with the disciples, have on hand.  That is, five loaves, and two small fish.  Let us remember that the loaves are broken and blessed, and the fish are divided, to feed five thousand men (a system of counting), and yet more women and children who were also present.  This is the nature of the God we know through the Old Testament, and the divine nature of Jesus Christ, God the Son who also became human, one of us.  In the Old Testament, when Samuel was sent to anoint a king, it was God who chose the youngest and smallest, the unlikely David (1 Samuel 16:1-13).  We read there that the Lord said to Samuel, when Samuel felt the eldest was surely fit to be king, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."   In terms of the New Testament, the very action of the Incarnation itself is a testimony to the limitless God who works through small things, even as a human being in the person of Jesus.  In this reading, we discussed Christ's parable of the Mustard Seed in this vein, how the very nature of the tender tiny elements Christ brings into the parable teaches us something about the greatness of God, and God's great grace working through the smallest and least likely things of this world.  Indeed, if we look at these patterns, we might notice that God seemingly prefers the small, just as God loves the poor.  In the great Song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55), she sings that God has exalted the lowly (verse 52).  In a great image of today's feeding, Mary sings, "He has filled the hungry with good things" (verse 53).  All of this is tied to the promises made to Abraham, as she sings, "He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever" (verses 54, 55).  Finally in St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians, he speaks of an infirmity, a "thorn in the flesh" which has not been alleviated through prayer.  But the Lord tells him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).  So, from the smallness of Israel, to the tiny mustard seed, to a girl named Mary, to today's five loaves and two fish, to St. Paul bragging in his infirmities and weakness and distresses, we read of the God who chooses the small things to work through, together with great faith.   St. Paul goes so far as to say affirmatively,  "For when I am weak, then I am strong."  Let us once more consider our God whose grace is sufficient for our weakness, Who so often chooses to work through the small and distressed, for this is the God who champions faith, who is filled with compassion, our good Shepherd who feeds us what we need. 

This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundered denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."    Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

- John 6:1-15

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His discourse to the leadership in Jerusalem (see the beginning here), who accused Him not only of violating Sabbath rules by healing a paralytic, but also of blasphemy by calling God His Father, and thereby declaring Himself equal to God (see Tuesday's reading):   "I can of Myself do nothing.  As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.  If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.  There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.  You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.  He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.  But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish -- the very works that I do -- bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me.  You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  I do not receive honor from men.  But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?  Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you -- Moses, in whom you trust.  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  My study bible tells us that the sixth chapter of John, similarly to the way in which the beginning chapter paralleled the creation story of Genesis, parallels the story of the Passover and Exodus of Israel from Egypt.  Here there's a parallel to the Exodus account (Exodus 11-17) in which God first performed His signs against Pharaoh, then gave instructions on how to be saved at the time of the Passover (Exodus 11:1-12:14).  Here in today's passage, the multitudes follow Christ because of His signs.  This too takes place at Passover.

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundered denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" My study bible says that Christ tests Philip's faith here, because Philip needed help in understanding Him (see 14:8-10).  Two hundred denarii would be over six months wages for a laborer.  Andrew shows that he has greater faith than Philip.  He knows that the prophet Elijsha had multiplied bread for 100 men (2 Kings 4:42-44), and so he offers the five loaves and two small fish that has been brought by a certain lad.  But Andrew is still weak in faith, questioning what these provisions could do for so many people.

Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.   This miraculous feeding of five thousand men (and more women and children) parallels the passage in the Exodus in which the Jews ate unleavened bread as they were hastily driven out of Egypt and had brought no provisions (Exodus 12:39).  Jesus feeds this great crowd with earthly bread as they had brought no provisions, because they had rushed out to see Him.  As Moses led the twelve tribes of Israel, so Christ has the disciples gather up twelve baskets of fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."    Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.  Although Jesus had performed greater signs than this one, the crowds fed by Him were so desirous of an earthly Messiah that they declare Jesus to be the expected Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19).  But this happens only because they were filled earthly things, as Jesus will later comment to them (see 6:26).  Because of this misunderstanding, my study bible says, Jesus departed from them.

All the concerns about who Jesus is mark John's Gospel.  We call Him King and Messiah, but He will not become an earthly king of the type the people are expecting.  In  worldly way, we might think that if He were a worldly king He'd be able to institute and teach what He has to teach people.  But faith just doesn't work that way.  Nothing happens with Christ by coercion or deception.  He wants people to know who He is, to understand Him.  He won't even assume worldly power without the faith He seeks in people.  Throughout the Gospels there will be people who fail to understand Him, and who cannot accept His identity.  He will be accused of blasphemy because of who He says He is, and He will be put to death for it.  But He never accepts the misunderstanding to His advantage.  His truth seems to be inextricably linked to fundamental notions of freedom.  Those who cannot accept His truth are free to reject it.  He will not assume a place in others' eyes based on falsehood.  He is continually working to open the eyes of people to God and to Himself and His identity.  And that work goes on through the grace of God, through the Holy Spirit sent at Pentecost.  He chooses His battles and His moments, but He always tells it true.  This is an example for us of purity; what it means to be the same on the inside as on the outside.  Contained in it is an understanding of freedom and free will that always respects this fundamental principle that belongs to human beings.  We're not forced into faith, although faith is what He's looking for.  In the readings that follow, Jesus' words will create for us parallels of this feeding in the wilderness with the Eucharist, His own being which feeds us.  He  will experience a great falling away because of the hard sayings He will give.  But He always tells it to us as it is; the freedom in which God creates us to live seems to ask of us always what we can accept, what we can receive, what faith we find in our hearts.