Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?

 

 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'   So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

 

- Matthew 18:21-35 

 

 In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued to teach the disciples about what it will mean in His Church to be truly great, and to possess authority.  He said, "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.  What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.  Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."  

 

 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'   So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."  Seventy times seven, according to my study Bible, is symbolic of an unlimited amount.  This parable, it says, illustrates the need for unlimited forgiveness.  Ten thousand talents is a completely unthinkable sum; it's more than a laborer could have earned in several lifetimes.  A hundred denarii is the equivalent of about three months wages for Christ's contemporaries, a significant amount but tiny compared to the debt which was owed to the king.  My study Bible comments that God not only stays the punishment we deserve, but forgives us the entire debt as well.  So, if God forgives us, are we not in turn asked to grant the gift of forgiveness to others?  (See Matthew 6:15; Mark 11:25-26.)  There is an additional note on this parable as well, commenting on the nature of the punishment described by Jesus.  A spiritual interpretation sees it as the man representing the soul, the wife representing the body, and the children a person's deeds.  so, the body and the deeds are given over to slavery -- in other words, to Satan -- so that the soul might possibly be saved (see 1 Corinthians 5:5).  

 

Forgiveness is a hard subject.  For those of us who've been wronged in a grievous injustice -- particularly by someone we've loved -- it can become a monumental thing to figure out how to negotiate our forgiveness.  It helps to think about the Lord's Prayer, echoed in the context of today's parable, in which we pray, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors"  (see verse 12).  In the prayer, as in the parable, debts are equivalent to sins, and this term invites us to consider sins as those things that take something away from someone else.  Perhaps debts are things others have done for us that we don't appreciate, or they are ways we've caused harm or injury, so that we "owe" what we've taken from someone in that sense.  In this context, payment of such a debt would be fulfilling a way of making amends, restoration.  In the 8th and 9th steps of the Twelve Steps, we find that a therapeutic program for health involves taking stock of such things, and doing our best to "repay" by making amends when possible and in ways that don't cause additional harm.  Perhaps a memorable story of the Bible for making amends is the story of Zacchaeus, who restored fourfold anything he had taken by false accusation in his position as chief tax collection.  This is restoration in line with Biblical directives.  But what of forgiveness?  Suppose no restitution or restoration comes?  How do we forgive -- let go -- of a debt when someone has done us harm?  How do we let go of the things we've done for others which go unappreciated or unnoticed?  These things become essential -- as they are in today's reading -- in community, but in particular in the community constituted by Christ, where God (and Christ as Lord and Judge) become the ultimate arbiters of all things.  When we cannot reconcile a debt easily between ourselves and other persons, we can take our forgiveness of debt to the Lord.  For the Lord will "collect" in His own way, in His own time, and with His own justice, which is far superior to ours.  In turn, this sets us free to begin to live in communion with Him, for He is the true restorer of all things, the only One who truly makes all things new (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 21:1).  He is the only One who can create something out of nothing, for only god has such creative power.  Therefore when we hand our "debts" over to Him, rather than collecting ourselves in whatever way we imagine we might, we make a kind of bargain in which all bets are off, and things suddenly become possible that were impossible, and we are set free to find God's way forward in our lives, instead of waiting to "collect" on people who won't or can't pay.  We become God's children, in giving up the things that expect an earthly reward which isn't forthcoming, and release ourselves to God's way through life instead.  In the context of the parable, we must notice the immeasurable amount of debt owed to the king, and such is our debt to God who loves us and seeks our love in return despite our uncountable sins in disregard of God's word and desires for us.  And each time we return, as one of His sheep, all is forgiven (see the parable of the Prodigal Son).  In our restoration to God and God's communion, God's love is ours regardless of how we have sinned.  Indeed, it is in God's unfailing love that we learn to repent and replace what we've lost in life with His grace.  Looking closely at our recent readings, we find that St. Peter's question to Jesus comes in the context of Christ's prescription for correction within the Church community, and after the one who has sinned has acknowledged what he's done, and so reconciliation becomes possible (see Christ's prescription for mutual correction in the Church in yesterday's reading, above).  Unfortunately, acknowledgement is not always the case.  And yet, in cases where there is no acknowledgement, there is still forgiveness in letting go of such debts to Christ, for it is in Christ that all things are reconciled (Colossians 1:19-20).  Perhaps we would do well to notice that God forgives things that are great, while we are asked to forgive that which is small.  Let us leave our "debts" in God's hands, for God's grace is unlimited, and freely given.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 the 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 now King Herod heard of Jesus, 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 me, 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 th 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 hears 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 the had done and what they had taught.  This verse continues the narrative of the Gospel from the reading in which Jesus sent out the Twelve on their first apostolic mission (see this reading).  Yesterday's story of the beheading John the Baptist (see above) was given parenthetically, as an explanation of Herod's fear that Jesus is John the Baptist returned from the dead.

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.  My study Bible comments that Christ gives rest to His disciples to show those engaged in preaching and teaching that they must not labor continuously, but must also take rest.  

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.  My study Bible comments that this miracle is reported by all four evangelists.  It shows Jesus feeding a great multitude of His people as He fed the Israelites in the desert (see Exodus 16).  It notes that the Church Fathers see in this an image of the Eucharist, which is an idea made clear in John 6.  There is another feeding miracle reported in Mark 8:1-10, in which Jesus feeds four thousand people with seven loaves and a few small fish.  Some modern scholars have attempted to say that these are simply the same story, my study Bible says, but the witness of the Gospels is clear that they are two distinct accounts -- and Christ Himself refers to them separately (Mark 8:17-21).  The text tells us that Jesus was moved with compassion, a phrase used consistently concerning our Lord (Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13).  It shows that Christ's power and authority are extended to those who suffer.  My study Bible further mentions that there is a spiritual interpretation in patristic literature which teaches that the five loaves indicate the five books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which are broken open in Christ and therefore feed the universe.  The two fish are representative of the Gospel Book and the Epistle Book, the teaching of the fishermen.  That the apostles gather the leftovers shows that the teachings which the faithful are unable to grasp are nonetheless held in the consciousness of the Church.  Additional understandings from this miraculous feeding include that we are shown here we should never eat without giving thanks to God.  This terminology, my study Bible says, points to the Last Supper (Mark 14:22-24) which also leads to a eucharistic interpretation of this miracle in today's reading.  As the disciples distribute the bread to set before the multitudes, so also Christ feeds the Eucharist to His flock through the hands of His bishops and presbyters.

 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.   After this significant occasion and development in His ministry, note that Christ departed to the mountain to pray.  So we should imitate Him at each new turn in our own lives, for guidance and the strengthening of our faith.

The feeding of the five thousand is also significant in the symbolism of the numbers.  Five is often seen as a number that symbolizes change, and this is, effectively, the story of the New Covenant, in which Christ -- as my study Bible says -- feeds the universe.  The "thousand" number gives us the sense of universality, and the multitudes included therein.  He who spoke the universe into existence, as the Word Himself, is the One who also comes into our world as the Son of Man, living the life of a human being, a creature of God, and so able to feed the entire creation through all that He does in that life, and through this New Covenant, His gospel.  At His Ascension, we understand that He rises -- including His now-glorified human flesh -- to sit at the right hand of the Father.  That is, He sits on the throne of judgment, as the Almighty, and so fills the place as the One to whom every knee shall  bow, rendering God all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).  This story not only teaches us a sense of universal fulfillment through Christ, but also of the universality of the very food He offers, which may include all a universe can give to us, regardless of our specific needs.  We turn to Him first, regardless of our need, our problem, our desire, our question to Him.  He is there for all, and this miracle declares this to be true.  Let us remember that all that He does comes from compassion.  The text says that 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.  For He is our great Good Shepherd, who serves, protects, guides, and feeds us with what we need.

Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?

 

 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

 

- Matthew 18:21–35 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught the disciples:  "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.  What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." 

 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."   My study Bible tells us that seventy times seven is symbolic of an unlimited amount (seven is a number symbolizing fullness; seventy multiples such fullness).  This is a parable which teaches the need for unlimited forgiveness.  Ten thousand talents is what my study Bible calls an impossible sum; it is more than any laborer could earn in many lifetimes.  A hundred denarii is a small number by comparison but still remains a significant amount by earthly standards -- my study Bible says it amounts to about three months' wages for a contemporary worker.  But it is a pittance compared to the debt which was owed to the king.  It notes that God not only stays the punishment we deserve, but forgives us the entire debt as well.  Because God forgives us, we are in turn required to grant the gift of forgiveness to others.  There is another patristic interpretation of this parable given, with regard to the punishment described.  In that interpretation, the man represents the soul, the wife represents the body, and the children represent a person's works or deeds.  So therefore, the body and the deeds are given over to slavery -- to Satan, so that the soul might possibly be saved (see 1 Corinthians 5:5). 

There are various places where Jesus teaches us the importance of forgiveness, and most notably how much it is required of us.  In the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:8-15), we pray, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors," indicating not simply mutual forgiveness but that since this prayer is in the plural ("Our" Father), we're also praying for the forgiveness of others.  Notably, Jesus adds the following statement in giving the prayer, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  This addition is a clear affirmation of the teaching in today's parable, Christ's strong admonition regarding our own duties of forgiveness if we want to realize the forgiveness given to us.  The parable makes it clear that God's forgiveness is abounding and abundant, and we are to imitate God in this in order to realize our own.  Note that the teaching does not ask us to be a doormat; in context with the teaching on mutual correction in the Church found in yesterday's reading, the process of forgiveness also asks repentance of those who sin against others.  But what seems most significant are the staggering sums of forgiveness of debt in the parable, something which it is literally impossible for us to repay.  If we think about God's forgiveness, the vast need of such forgiveness is also not limited by time.  That is, as human beings prone to error and sin, we have a long way to go in terms of how we could possibly "qualify" to live in harmony with God in God's Kingdom.  Without forgiveness of sin, how would that even be possible?  Therefore the forgiveness of God, given in advance of any repentance on our part, is extraordinary.  However, in order to realize that forgiveness, we must go through our own process of repentance -- and especially in today's teaching by Jesus, our own exercise of forgiveness as well.  Forgiveness is a powerful way to re-establish trust when a trust has been broken; in effect, it is the only way to do so.  Therefore, as God invites us in to a communion with God even though we have strayed away from it and are always tempted to do so in a number of ways, we are continually invited back in.  The nature of a sinful or "fallen" world is simply a type of predetermination that we will sin, incorporating and learning sinful behavior and misleading thinking and habits from what is around us.  But God's forgiveness covers that, as God awaits our own "change of mind" (repentance) and return.  Therefore we are in turn asked to forgive and re-establish relationship or communion with others (a "brother") within the fullness of the communion with God, and the body of Christ (the Church).  While we realize the love and forgiveness on offer to us, our disposition should be to realize that as we are capable of such also.  Within a marriage, for example, such a disposition and habit must be understood as a bedrock for continued good relations in a bond which Jesus describes as "two become one flesh" (see Matthew 19:4-6; not coincidentally part of the text in tomorrow's Gospel reading).  But again, forgiveness is a process that has repentance as part of its structure.  Just as the bad servant realized the amount of his debt, and asked for patience, we also must recognize our own before forgiveness is extended.  Let us note also the phrase in the parable often associated with Jesus' actions:  the master was moved with compassion.  It's important to see that Christ asks us to do the same in turn, just as judgment will also be based on the exercise of this capacity for ourselves (see Matthew 25:31-45).  Moreover, we are to understand that God is offering forgiveness before we realize we need it, but we also must do our own "work" to realize it and receive it.  So it is with compassion and forgiveness; we may offer something as a disposition toward others, but there is a process to reconciliation that asks repentance as well.  In all things, we seek to please God above all, giving our circumstances and difficulties with others up to God for guidance through them.  Here we are given a model of what it is to forgive and what it is to withhold forgiveness even after repentance and the knowledge of our own forgiveness by God.  This is an understanding and attitude made in the heart, a teaching that comes from the love we're given by God to begin with, and hopefully we learn to grow in that love in the heart.  

We have here only five loaves and two fish

 

 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, at 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 Philip'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.   Jesus withdraws to a deserted place by Himself because He has just heard that 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."  This is what we've just read in yesterday's lectionary reading (above), and this attention and fear from Herod is what Jesus is responding to.  He withdraws to a place away from the scrutiny of the court and Herod and Roman power.   It's important to observe that Jesus avoids open conflict with the authorities before it is the time for His Passion, also referred to as His hour (see John 7:30, 8:20, 12:27, 13:1, 17:1).

 

 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.  By this time, Christ has difficulty withdrawing from the public, and so now multitudes followed Him on foot from the cities.  Jesus' first response is to be moved with compassion for them when He sees them, and so He 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."  Here necessity intervenes once again.  These multitudes have already followed Him to this deserted place.  Perhaps Jesus feels responsible for them being there, and we already know that He has compassion for them.  But here is something interesting; Jesus teaches the disciples also to take on some of this responsibility for the people when He says, "They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat." "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 too 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. My study Bible points out that this miracle is reported by all four evangelists, and it shows Jesus feeding a great multitude of His people even as He fed the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 16).  In patristic commentary, my study Bible reports, this is seen as an image of the Eucharist -- which is made very clear in John 6.  There is another feeding miracle reported in the following chapter of St. Matthew's gospel (Matthew 15:32-39), in which Jesus feeds four thousand people with seven loaves and a few small fish, which some theorize might be the same story.  But the explicit appearance of different numbers in the crowds and the food elements, and also the witness of the gospel, show that they are two different miracles, as Christ will refer to them separately as two events (Matthew 16:8-10).   There is a spiritual interpretation given in patristic teaching that the five loaves indicate the five books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which are broken open in Christ and therefore feed the universe.  The two fish represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle Book, the teaching of the fishermen.  Moreover, the gathering of the leftovers by the apostles shows that the teachings the faithful are unable to grasp are nonetheless held in the consciousness of the Church.  

My study Bible also points out that the phrase moved with compassion is used frequently concerning the Lord (Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41, 6:34; Luke 7:13).  It comments that what this shows is that Christ's power and authority are extended to those who suffer.  And so, we can see from today's reading that Jesus teaches His disciples to do the same.  While He is the One who uses His power to multiply the five loaves and the two fish, He's training His disciples also to use their own capacities on behalf of those who suffer.  He also shows this by example when He begins His expression of compassion by healing the sick brought to Him by the crowd.  It seems to be an important teaching that, when we are serving the Lord in any capacity in our lives, and perhaps particularly when we are called to compassion, we may rely upon the Lord by seeking whatever is at hand to rise to the task.  This is made clear by implication here that the Lord will take what we have and help to prepare and to provide for its use to help and to heal.  This kind of nourishment is material and assuages human hunger, but in this example in today's reading we can also see a metaphorical image of what to feed people and serve their needs on all kinds of levels, for there are many types of needs that human beings have.  It's already been pointed out that in the loaves and the two fish is seen the Scriptures which are another way to nourish people and to give them what they truly need, for our spiritual needs also must be recognized if we're to be wholly nurtured.  It's also important to note that when Christ acts, when the Lord's power and authority are on display, it is always in order to give and not to take.  That is, the creative power of the Lord and Christ's authority are exercised in giving what the world truly needs (even when it's not what the world wants, as we'll see at His rejection by the nation, and as we read in the story of His rejection in His hometown of Nazareth in Wednesday's reading).   This kind of majestic dignity and glory is one of true abundance, for God always has more to give us.  As those who would serve God, it is important to remember this when we feel tired or exhausted, and when we're called to serve in our own ways of nourishing and feeding the world.  This is the way that God's creativity works.  It is always expansive, even if that is in teaching us ways to feed and nurture ourselves so that we may also become creative in the same ways our Lord shows His use of power and authority.  God sets in order and fills with life, as is seen right from the beginning of the Bible.  Here Jesus first sets the people in order, and provides with abundance so that there is life abundantly (John 10:10), a way to show right relatedness and also the glory of God.  In today's feeding are the elements that prefigure the Eucharist, our holy food and drink that nurtures us with His Body and Blood, making us a people of faith and communion in Him.  Let us take these teachings and allow them to shape who we are as well, just as the disciples do. 

 

 

 

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd

 

 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:  first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

 

- Matthew 9:35—10:4 

 

Yesterday we read that two blind men followed Jesus, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!"  And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him.  And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"  They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."  Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you."  And their eyes were opened.  And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See that no one knows it."  But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.  As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed.  And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke.  And the multitudes marveled, saying, "It was never seen like this in Israel!"  But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the ruler of demons."

 

  Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  My study Bible asks us to note that here Jesus doesn't condemn sinners, instead seeing them like lost sheep, to be found and brought home.  Compassion, it notes, means "suffering with."  This quality is characteristic of our Lord.  The illustration of sheep having no shepherd is drawn from the Old Testament (Numbers 27:17; 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:5), and it is an accusation against the Jewish leaders.  For they are charged with the duty of shepherds, and have acted as wolves.  The same would apply to leaders of our time who forget they are shepherds of the Church.

Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."  The harvest, according to my study Bible, suggests an abundance of people who are ready to accept the Kingdom.  Jesus is both the Sower and also the Lord of the harvest.  His disciples are not sent to sow, but to reap what the Lord had sown by the prophets (John 4:36-38).  How many are sent to harvest is less important than with what power they go into the harvest, which we will read about in the following verse, as Christ sends out the apostles.

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:  first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.  My study Bible comments that disciples and apostles are often used interchangeably for the twelve.  Disciple means "learner" (in Greek, μαθητής/mathetes), and apostle means "one sent out" (ἀπόστολος/apostolos).  We note that Jesus gave them power to perform miracles, but He performed them by His own power.  The names of the Twelve are not the same in all lists; many people had more than one name.  These names in Matthew are given in pairs.  My study Bible comments that this list suggests who may have traveled together on this "first missionary journey," as Mark tells us they were sent out two by two (Mark 6:7).  

The theme of sheep and shepherds runs through the Bible.  Jesus, of course, is the good shepherd:  "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep" (John 10:11).  Here in today's reading, He expresses His role as the Good Shepherd in His compassion and concern for those who are like sheep. He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  The people aren't just like sheep, they are "like sheep having no shepherd."  They are weary and scattered, and they need a Good Shepherd who can unify them and give them strength.  This is part of the role of our Good Shepherd.  It's a good clue about what constitutes real leadership that the text offers to us this insight regarding Jesus' understanding of this need of the people, and His own capacity to fill it.  What do we want from a good leader?  What inspires us to follow a good leader?  Jesus often gives courage to His followers, telling the disciples to take heart at times of fear.  He inspires with His willingness to give of Himself first.  Everything He does is for His sheep.  And He gives direction, teaching us how to live, how to go forward in life, how we must shape our lives.  He responds with teaching for those who are like sheep with no shepherd (Mark 6:34).   Christ's next action that exemplifies leadership is to take charge and send out His messengers of the Kingdom.  In tomorrow's reading we'll find His instructions for the mission.  But let us note that on this first apostolic mission He prepares them for it by giving them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.  This is a power that works for the kingdom of God, and against the unclean spirits, the ones who create ailments, problems, and troubles for human beings, the forces opposed to Christ.  Like a good leader, Christ chooses those whom He will send out, His soldiers, His representatives, those whom He has trained to be like Him, and entrusted with mission to the sheep.

 

 

They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat

 

 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 give thousand men, besides women and children.

 

- Matthew 14:13-21 

 

 Yesterday we read that at 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 Philip'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.  When Jesus heard it refers almost certainly not to John the Baptist's death, but rather to the fact that Herod said to his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead and therefore these powers are at work in him" (see yesterday's reading, above).  Jesus departed from there to go to a deserted place by Himself as a way of evading the scrutiny of Herod and Herod's paranoia.

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.  Let us note that Christ's first response is to be moved with compassion for the crowds who follow Him.  My study Bible comments that "moved with compassion" is used frequently concerning Christ (Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41, 6:34; Luke 7:13), which shows that the Lord'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 give thousand men, besides women and children.  My study Bible comments that this miracle, first of all, is reported by all four evangelists, so we must understand its centrality to the Gospels.  It shows Jesus feeding a great multitude of His people, just as he fed the Israelites in the desert (see Exodus 16).  In this feeding, the patristic writers see an image of the Eucharist, which is made quite clear in John 6.   Moreover, Christ shows that we should never eat without first giving thanks to God.  The terminology here points to the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26), and also thereby leads to a eucharistic interpretation of this miracle.  As the disciples distribute the bread to the multitudes, my study Bible says, so also Christ feeds the Eucharist to His flock through the hands of His bishops and presbyters. There is a spiritual interpretation in patristic teachings that the five loaves indicate the five books of the Law, also called Torah or Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which are broken open in Christ and thereby feed the universe.  The two fish represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle Book, the teaching of the fishermen.  In the gathering of the leftovers by the apostles, it is shown that the teachings which the faithful are unable to grasp are nevertheless held in the consciousness of the Church.  There is another miraculous feeding in Matthew 15:32-39, in which Jesus feeds four thousand people with seven loaves and a few small fish.  The witness of the gospel is clear that they are two distinct accounts, as Jesus later refers to both of them separately (Matthew 16:8-10).  

 

 Our latest readings have given us pause to consider what it means to cultivate and live a good life.  Throughout chapter 13, we read Jesus' various parables given to the crowds regarding what the kingdom of heaven is like.  So many of them focused on agricultural metaphors of growing good crops, or good trees which produce good fruit, such as the parable of the Sower, and the parable of the Wheat and the Tares.  There were also parables about objects of great beauty and value, such as the treasure hidden in the field, and the pearl of great price.  These illustrate the infinite value of spiritual understanding offered by Christ and the kingdom He invites us to be part of.  In the parable of the wheat and tares, and also of the dragnet, we're given to understand that there is a judgment connected with this kingdom, and the end of the age.  So each parable teaches us about what is of great value, what is worthy of sacrifice, and how these things build us up as persons and contribute to living a good life.  They teach us about endurance and choice.  In yesterday's reading (above) we were given the story about Herod Antipas and the death by beheading of John the Baptist.  In a certain sense, we commented, Herod serves as a cautionary tale in the midst of the stories of the immense value and worth of the kingdom of heaven; he is the opposite of what Christ teaches us to be, to aspire to become through participation in His kingdom and its values and teachings.  Finally, today we're given the parable of the feeding of the five thousand, and it seems to ask us to think about what we take in, what we consume, the things with which we feed ourselves in our lives.  Everything we read in the Gospels, and Christ's teachings, seem to indicate that there is at least some degree of choice we make in our lives.  While everything is most certainly not in our control, there are choices which we can make in our lives.  We can make an effort to determine what things we'll take in to nurture and feed ourselves.  Do we dwell on Scripture and the teachings of Christ?  What do we choose to think about, to dwell upon?  We do make choices when we decide the importance of faith, and what exactly we'll put our faith into.  An especially important choice is about trust:  in whom and what will we put our trust?  The root of the word for faith in Greek is really "trust."  Do we trust Christ to tell us the truth, and to give us the straight story?  Trust is deeply linked to love, to those whom we sense really love us.  Again, the story of Herod in yesterday's reading teaches us the difference between simply being indulged in all of our appetites so that we're like spoiled children, and a loving parent who's going to give us discipline and nurture us with what is truly good for us, which helps us to grow in strength and integrity.  And this is what Christ offers to us; it is this food of the Kingdom with which we really must be nurtured to be full human beings, with a sense that we have fulfilled true capabilities for maturity, growth, and wisdom to live our lives and shepherd our own communities, to responsibly make decisions about the things for which we're responsible.  Life is full of uncertainties and the things which we might not be able to fully prepare for.  But Christ feeds us with the things that are meant for full lives, the strength that takes us through the ups and downs and unforeseen circumstances.  He gives us the courage to challenge ourselves to growth, and the wisdom to find resources even when we seem to be stranded in the wilderness looking for what we truly need.

 

 

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 now King Herod heard of Jesus, 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 me, 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.  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.  The apostles have just returned from their first missionary journey, so they have much to talk about with Christ regarding what they had done and what they had taught.  My study Bible comments that Christ gives rest to His disciples to show those engaged in preaching and teaching that they must not labor continuously, but must also take rest.  But even in a deserted place which they went to by boat, they cannot escape the crowds who anticipate where they are going and run before them.  Again, we see a display of Jesus' compassion, with the distinctive phrase that calls to Christ, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  My study bible makes note that the Gospels frequently use the phrase moved with compassion of Jesus (Matthew 14:14, 20:34; Mark 1:41, Luke 7:13), which shows that His power and authority are extended to those who suffer. 

 

 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.  This miracle, the feeding of five thousand men (and more women and children), is reported by all four evangelists.  It depicts our Lord feeding a great multitude of His people just as He fed the Israelites in the desert (see Exodus 16).  Jesus teaches that we should never eat without first giving thanks to God.  My study Bible comments that the terminology here points to the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26), and therefore leads to a eucharistic interpretation of this miracle.  This is made clear in John 6.  As the disciples distribute the bread to the multitudes, so also Christ feeds us the Eucharist through the hands of His bishops and presbyters.  There is also a spiritual interpretation found in patristic literature, which teaches that the five loaves indicate the five books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which are "broken open" in Christ, and thus feed the universe.  The two fish represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle Book, the teaching of the fishermen.  Additionally, the gathering of the leftovers by the apostles (twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish) shows that the teachings which the faithful are unable to grasp are nonetheless held in the consciousness of the Church.  

 

 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.  Once again, we see Jesus withdrawing as He intended to before the multitude followed.  But this time, He departed to the mountain to pray.  It is a reminder that we often need to withdraw to pray, but we also may consider this important "landmark" in His ministry of the feeding in the wilderness, and that it begins a phrase in His public life.  To depart to the mountain indicates a communion with God the Father, a place where important spiritual experience takes place.

With what do you feed yourself?  With what does Christ feed you?  Certainly we can read in today's reading the commentary regarding the Eucharist, and how this central feeding miracle foreshadows the Eucharist and Christ's words at the Last Supper.  But when God chooses to give us something, there is no stinting at this effort, no piecemeal sort of giving.  Christ gives us Himself.  He gave Himself in the Incarnation, He gave Himself at the Cross, He gives Himself in the Eucharist.  But there is so much more to read into today's Gospel reading.  Jesus responds to our suffering.  He responds with compassion to the needs of humanity that call to His lordship for us.  He was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  And that was what they needed, a shepherd, so He became the Shepherd and taught them many things.  Finally, they continue with Him the full day and have nothing to eat -- and this becomes the opportunity for the miracle and for teaching the disciples how to act with what is at hand.  It is a great lesson in hospitality, which is at its true heart and purest form an exercise in compassion.  This theme runs throughout the Scriptures, and was embodied in the lives of the desert monks.  So how can we incorporate into our lives the lessons Jesus teaches?  We must remember that at all times, an abundance in life is created when we have Christ with us.  He fills us with good things (Luke 1:53), especially those particular things for which we are truly hungry and need.  He teaches us to take the initiative, to start with what is at hand, to understand that when we begin with prayer we are halfway there to fulfillment of what's necessary.  And He shares His great gift of compassion and hospitality with us, as He distributes through the disciples, teaching them the image of His Church.  Jesus has said, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20).  Well, where even two or three are gathered there is room for hospitality and graciousness, and there is room for the richness we have in Christ and in our faith and the Church as a whole and all the gifts stored therein for the world, and the saints and angels that are a part of it.  We make room for Christ, as He has made room for us, even a banquet in the wilderness.  The richness of such a gift, one feels, is one we have only started to understand, for we enter into His abundance, not just our own.  Let us do as He does always, and remember our prayer, for that is where every good and perfect gift begins, for "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17).  Wherever we are, when we are with Him, we have what He offers, the things with which He feeds us.  He is our Shepherd for those of us who need Him, our Teacher who teaches us what we need, and who multiplies His abundance for us.  Sometimes it is all so hard to see, but in prayer we'll find we are offered what we truly need.

He was moved with compassion for them

 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 at that time in Jesus' ministry, 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 Philip'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."  Theophylact comments that "when Jesus heard it" refers not to the death of John the Baptist (see yesterday's reading, above) but to Herod's fear that Jesus was John raised from the dead, and that is why Christ's powers were at work in Him (14:2).  The rest of yesterday's text was given to explain Herod's remark which had been heard by Jesus.  It seems quite evident that departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself in order to withdraw for prayer at this important juncture in His ministry.

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.  This feeding miracle in the deserted place is reported by all four evangelists.  My study bible comments that it shows Jesus the Lord feeding a great multitude of His people just as He fed the Israelites in the desert (see Exodus 16).  Church Fathers see in this an image of the Eucharist, which is made more clear in John 6, written years after Matthew's account, after a deeper understanding had bloomed in the Church.  Moved with compassion is used frequently, my study bible points out, concerning the Lord (20:34; Mark 1:41, 6:34; Luke 7:13).  It shows that Christ's power and authority are extended to those who suffer.  There are also details given spiritual significance in understanding this text.  One beautiful understanding of the five loaves is that they indicate the five books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), broken open in Christ and thereby feeding the universe.  The two fish, in this light, represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle book, the teaching of the fishermen.  The gathered leftovers held by the apostles shows that the teachings the faithful cannot yet understand are nonetheless retained in the consciousness of the Church.

What does it mean that Jesus withdrew to a deserted place upon hearing that Herod was afraid of Him and His power?  Herod has no way to understand Christ; his fears are simply superstitions arise from the fact that he is the one who had John beheaded at the behest of a girl, and because of an oath he swore.  It means that Jesus has now become fully aware of a particular milestone in His ministry, that the powers of the state fear Him, and are doing so irrationally.  But how was Jesus to act in the face of such powerful forces in opposition to Him?  If we think of Herod -- ruler of Galilee -- we have to remember how John the Baptist has just summarily been beheaded for an oath, a whim at a birthday party.  And this is the moment a capricious and lethal state power has stepped into the picture.  Jesus withdraws for prayer no doubt to find the right direction His ministry will go in response.  And if we assume those things, then we also must assume that what follows is the answer to prayer.  The people who've followed Him have a need, and His response is to be moved with compassion.  His prayer, we perhaps should understand, has set the stage for this miracle, and the appearance of the need for bread, the fulfillment of the Lord feeding His people in the wilderness, and the introduction to the Eucharist.  It is also, in the gathering of the fragments, a beginning hint that with all the opposition He will face, including His eventual death by Roman crucifixion and condemnation by the nation, that His Gospel is to go out to all the world.  His being moved with compassion is the key that starts it all, which tells us something of vast significance.  It's not only His divine power at work in this new step in His ministry in response to the violence that threatens it.  It is also His humanity, necessary to be "moved with compassion," because this word in Greek is telling us it is His insides, His "guts" if you will, that respond.  That single word in Greek that describes this action of being moved with compassion is σπλαγχνίζομαι, rooted in a word that means "spleen."  He is so moved that His inward parts are affected with feeling, so our God/man is once again totally involved in what results, and it expresses the fullness of the Incarnation, just as the Eucharist will in the future.  Let us consider these things and embrace them, and above all be grateful for them.  Let us do as He does at each juncture, roadblock, or threat, and withdraw for prayer to find the place God asks us to go forward in His word and His truth.

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 Jesus' apostles, going out on their first mission, 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 me, 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.  My study bible points out here that the word "apostle" (which means "one who is sent," a messenger) is found frequently in the epistles but is rare in the gospels.  It says, "It designates an official representative authorized to carry out a specific mission."  We see the hustle and bustle of Jesus' ministry at this stage; the apostles don't even have time to eat.  Another note tells us:  "Jesus gives the disciples time to rest a while.  They have just returned from a demanding assignment -- preaching, healing and casting out demons -- and it is time for solitude."

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, there's an emphasis on the widespread popularity of this ministry:  the multitudes spot where Jesus is headed and arrive before Him, even when He's supposedly seeking to get away to a private spot with His apostles who've just returned from their first mission.  It's central that we examine the fact that Jesus is "moved with compassion."  In the Greek, this word is σπλαγχνίζομαι/splagchnizomai.  What we need to understand is that its root (splagchno) is the word for "spleen" -- but what this word means is that one is moved in "their guts" so to speak, in the inner organs of heart, liver, kidneys, lungs.  It denotes, to my mind, the absolute reality of Incarnation, the power of compassion as something more than just an emotion or feeling or mental state.  It involves the body, something that our own "flesh" is made for, exemplified in the Incarnate Jesus.  His first act of compassion is to teach them.

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.   There are several notes here I'd like to cite from.  First of all, regarding the feeding itself, my study bible says that this is "both a messianic sign and an image of the Eucharist.  Jesus' sustenance is never exhausted, just as His eucharistic body, multiplied and distributed, is 'ever eaten and never consumed, sanctifying those who partake'" (from the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Church).  We note again, the emphasis on the body, the "Incarnational" place this takes us to, its inseparability from the fact of Jesus' Incarnation.  Also, my study bible notes that "the disciples learn a great lesson here:  whatever they have is enough to feed the people, whether physically or spiritually.  God can multiply our resources so that everyone can be filled.  But we must participate in His grace:  Christ, along with the Father, blesses the loaves, but the disciples distribute them."  Again, there is the emphasis on God as human, one of us, and on the fullness of needs that are filled:  from the spiritual to the physical.  As creations of the Creator, we are a whole, all is one, physical and spiritual work together.  In the command Jesus cites as "first of all," we read that we are to love God "with all our heart and soul and strength and mind."  What He feeds us with reflects all of that, returned.    Finally, my study bible notes that there were also women and children present, but according to custom of the time, only the approximate number of men is given.  Again, a reflection of the fullness of Jesus' humanity:  nobody is left out -- none of us.  There is no one left out, there is no "insignificant."  Everyone is filled:  with teaching and with physical food.

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.  Again, the care of the body is important, the care of the whole self.  Jesus still sends His disciples off alone, dismissing the multitude, while He Himself goes to the mountain to pray.

Today's reading in some sense emphasizes the fullness of the Incarnation, and its full relationship to us.  Jesus' humanity becomes a connecting block here in far more ways than we can consider.  He is "moved" in His inward parts when He sees our needs.  He feeds the crowd spiritually, psychologically, mentally, and physically -- with food for heart and soul and mind and strength.  He will not abandon us, He is with us in every possible way, as one of us.  The Eucharist itself becomes an everlasting sign for us of this togetherness:  His body, with us, making us also "of His body."  We look at His compassion, in the midst of His busy ministry, His own tiredness and that of His apostles.  And yet, "moved with compassion," the body is also involved in feeding, in every way, in teaching and in the distribution of the loaves and fishes.  Our needs exist on many levels and He neglects none of them, despite the needs of those who minister.  And there is more:  there are not only men here, recorded in the custom of the time, but there are women and children who receive, all for all.  So, we must think about this, that just as the Church has honored both His mother and the stages of His human infancy and childhood, so also are women and children present for the fullness of the Gift.  The feeding of these five thousand is one event that is present in all four Gospels.  It is absolutely central to the Gospel, the good news of the Kingdom that is among us.  It can't be left out.  And in its fullness, among all the other things that we can take away from today's reading and message, is the power and essence of the Incarnation, the needfulness of God who has become human -- our deep need for this and what it has brought to us.  In every way, Jesus dignifies humanity.  His great gift, among all the rest of the gifts we receive, is to teach us that we are created for something glorious, blessed, with all the goodness of God's creation a part of every aspect of ourselves, including our bodies.  To my way of thinking, Jesus' Incarnation as human being teaches us that what our bodies are for is to be the recipient of His divine power, His grace, His courage and compassion, His wisdom, and His love.  Our bodies also become an instrument of His service to all.  Even in our weaknesses and frailties, we also fulfill the second of the two great commandments:  to love neighbor as ourselves.  If Jesus' human body is the seat of compassion, the place where compassion is at work, in the inner organs, then so our bodies can be the same.  We are made to be "like Him."  Let us not overlook the understanding that at the time of Christ, many religions -- certainly those of the regions of the world which had contact with the Mediterranean and all the vast environs linked by communication and trade at the time -- focused on an absolute difference between the physical and the spiritual.  But Jesus comes into the world teaching that the problem is with separation:  our lives are made to be in union with God.  The Eucharist is a direct "proclamation," if you will, that we are made to participate with God, on every level, and the Incarnation teaches us how God's love extends to every facet of human life.  Let us remember what His body and blood are for when we partake.  Let us remind ourselves that love for God is in the fullness of heart and soul and mind and strength.  He is here for every part of us.  Let's not leave any part out.  Finally, we note that Jesus is moved with compassion because the people are like sheep not having a shepherd.  Let us understand this need in us for a Shepherd through all things, recognizing it fully, in every way.  That would include direction for how we are to use and think about our bodies, our whole selves.