Meditation of the Feeding of the Five Thousand
The story of the feeding of the five thousand, is filled with inexhaustible richness on the subject of Christology and Ecclesiology. The story points to both the saving work of Christ and the function of the Church in bringing about the saving work of Christ, as well as continuing it. We are told that when Jesus crossed to the other side of the sea of
Galilee, he was followed by a great crowd because they had seen the signs, he worked on those who were sick. The crowd follows Christ after an initial yet limited knowledge of who he is, but with some degree of confidence and trust to begin with, in what they had seen. This is very important step for those who desire to follow Christ, and those who wish to start on a particular devotion. You do not need to have the complete grasp of everything, as long as there is sufficient desire to seek Christ, He will welcome you back, and reveal himself to you.
We are told that when the people came to Jesus, he then went up the mountain. In most cases the bible depicts the mountain as a place of God’s presence or dwelling, God’s throne, a place where God reveals himself, a place of encounter with God, such as on mount Sinai, and on the Mount of Transfiguration. But this going up the mountain by Jesus also points to Jesus’ ascending to his throne when he will be lifted up on the Cross. And whenever we come to Jesus wishing to know who he is, he directs our attention to his Cross where he is fully revealed, who he truly is, the savior of humanity. Remember when some Greeks had come to the Passover feast, they came to Philip and said that “Sir, we wish to see Jesus” (John:12:20), and Philip and Andrew introduced them to Jesus. Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” In other words, the hour when Jesus will be lifted up on the Cross for the whole world to see, who is Christ. Jesus is truly the Savior of the world, when he sits on his throne of the Cross. The people at Calvary were telling him to come down off the Cross so they can believe. Yet, Christ must reign while on the Cross. Why should he come down? Why should we have a Cross-less Christ?
And here in the story, we are told as well that the Passover feast of the Jews was near. And now Jesus turns to his Church, the apostolic college. He asks Philip who was the prefect for problems and conflict management in the Apostolic college. As one time there was a confusion among the disciples, when our Lord said, “where I am going you know way” and Thomas protested, “Lord we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way” then Jesus said, “I am the Way.” And again Jesus said, “if you know me, you will know the Father also” and Philip says, “Lord show us the Father, and we will be satisfied,” (John 14:4-9), suggesting quick solutions to problems. Now Jesus turns to Philip, and Philip judged that the problem was too big to solve. Even when he is standing in the presence of Almighty God. This is a real test of faith.
And Andrew who was the prefect of diplomatic and public relations, for, he is always introducing someone to Christ, determines that there is Aid to begin with, “there is a boy who has five loaves and two fish.” St. Thomas Aquinas said that “Grace perfects nature.” God takes what we have, what we bring to Him, and perfects it or completes it with His grace. He takes the five loaves and two fish and multiplies it for all the people to eat. He takes the bread and the wine we bring, and He gives us his body and blood back. He takes what we bring to him and gives us the best. He takes our hearts, our lives, our families, our children, that we bring to him, and gives us back the best of it. We should never fear to come to Jesus the way we are, with our limitations, with our weaknesses, with our fears and concerns. “There is a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea; There is welcome for the sinner, and more graces for the good.”
My friends, we have come today, to this Mass, “not to a mountain of blazing fire, indeed, so terrifying to cause great fear and trembling, but we have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to myriads of Angels in festal gathering, to God the merciful Judge, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:18-24).
Let us pray then, that the sacrifice and the offering we bring today, may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father. AMEN
Given on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 19th, 2023.
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