Gospel Reflection: The multiplication of loaves and fishes

Most Christians have read or heard the story of how Jesus miraculously multiplied a few loaves of bread and fishes to feed thousands of people. It was such a memorable event that it is featured in all four Gospels. I always thought it was an unbelievable miracle, but until I studied Scripture I did not realize how beautifully it pre-figured both the Last Supper and the Holy Eucharist. 

This morning I read about the miracle in John 6. The story starts with Jesus landing “on the other side” on the Sea of Galilee. It is believed that this was the town of Tabgha. My wife and I had the opportunity to visit it. From there you can gaze up the hill to the Mount of Beatitudes and it’s less than 2 miles from Capernaum, where Jesus travels to next. Large crowds followed him because they had heard and witnessed his many miracles. Jesus cares for our bodily needs as well as spiritual needs, and so he asked Phillip about feeding them. Andrew says that a boy has 5 barley loaves and 2 fish. Barley loaves is what the very poor people ate at the time. 

St. John tells us this happened soon before the Feast of Passover. The last Supper happened in the week of Passover, so we start to see the parallels. Today, the Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with people bringing the offering of bread, wine, and water to the altar. This is a meager offering we can gather and offer to God for His transformation, just like the offering from the boy. When people bring the offerings to the altar, it symbolizes us giving of ourselves to God.

Then Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks, just like he did during The last Supper and just as the priest does during mass. The original Greek word used by St. John was “eucharistein”, meaning to give thanks. Hence our use of eucharistia or eucharist. Just like in mass, Jesus miraculously transformed the bread to feed everyone. Through the miracle of transubstantiation, every Sunday (or daily for some people) we are blessed to receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ truly present under the appearance of bread and wine. We grow in sanctifying grace and love. What an amazing gift! What a loving God to give of Himself to us. Praise the Lord!

That evening he traveled to Capernaum (he and Peter lived here in Peter’s mother in law’s home) and the next day he continued His message on the eucharist. He said, “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 

And then he made the statement that horrified many of the Jews and some stormed out of the synagogue: “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.”

We are so blessed. We come to mass with the small offering of ourselves, and we receive in turn Jesus, the real presence of Christ, so that He may abide in us and we in Him. We must be conscious of all the good we can do for others and all the love we are able to give when we are one with Jesus. We can help others believe and live forever. God bless you!