Bread for the Needy

Today’s Gospel Text:  When the crowds learned it, they followed him; and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and cured those who had need of healing. 12 Now the day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him, "Send the crowd away, to go into the villages and country round about, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a lonely place." 13 But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish - unless we are to go and buy food for all these people." 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each." 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And all ate and were satisfied. And they took up what was left over, twelve baskets of broken pieces. Luke 9:11-17

Reflection: What a miracle! Christ Jesus could indeed feed the multitudes with just five loaves and two fishes. 

The scripture tells us that there were five thousand men and we do not know how many women and children were there in the large gathering that had primarily come to listen to the message and miracles of Jesus.

Who could doubt the ability of Christ to multiply and feed the hungry untill they were completely satisfied and even have some of the food remaining?

Perhaps there must have been many beggars in Israel and Jesus could have performed more of these miracles often to feed the poor and the hungry and he had the ability to that.

In our times there are many in the church who have made feeding the poor with material food and other forms of benefits their very goal.  

Some have made their struggle on behalf of the poor their spirituality and a way of life.  Many have chosen to interpret gospel texts in similar fashion and today’s gospel in which Jesus feeds the multitude could be interpreted by them in a similar way.

What they forget is that the evil one is as interested in leading us away from the truth of the gospel and keeps us focused purely on the poor and the downtrodden and make us forget the primary food; the bread of heaven, Christ Jesus.

The gospel action of Jesus clearly shows that Jesus first fed them with the spiritual food and then the material food.

It also shows that the miracle was performed more so for the sake of the disciples, whom he exhorts to feed the crowd and then when the bread and fish is blessed he hands them over to the disciples to be distributed.

And the bread and fish was not meant for the materially poor but for the spiritual needy who came to hear God’s word.  

For the dedicated disciples this miracle follows their preaching and healing mission which Christ Jesus has sent them on.

Prayer:  “Give us this day our daily bread” (Mt. 6:11; cfr. Jn. 6:34)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us