One day Jesus was on his way to a solitary place along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.The Gospel of Matthew tells the story: “But when he disembarked he found that a large crowd was waiting for him. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
"When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, ‘This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.’
"Jesus said to them, ‘There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.’ But they said to him, ‘Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.’
"Then he said, ‘Bring them here to me,’ and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
"They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over -- twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.”
It was the most joyous picnic in the history of the world!
What does this Gospel tell us? First, that Jesus was worried and “his heart was moved with pity” for the whole man, body and soul. He distributes the word to the soul, and to the body he offers healing and food. You will say: So why doesn’t he still do that today? Why doesn’t he multiply bread for the many millions who are starving on the earth?
There is a detail in this Gospel that can help us to find the answer to these questions. Jesus does not snap his fingers and bread and fish appear magically at will. He asked his disciples what they had; he invited them to share what they had: five loaves of bread and two fish.
Jesus does the same today. He asks us to share the resources of the earth. It is well known, at least in regard to food, that our earth would be able to support more than a billion more people than presently inhabit the earth.
So how can we accuse God of not furnishing enough bread for everyone when every year we destroy millions of tons of food supplies -- which we say we have “too much” of -- so as to prevent food prices from falling? What is the solution? Better distribution, greater solidarity and more sharing.
I know, it’s not that easy. There is the mania for weapons, there are irresponsible government leaders who keep many people hungry. But part of the responsibility is on the shoulders of the rich countries. We are that anonymous person -- a boy, according to one of the evangelists -- who has five loaves of bread and two fish; it is only that we hold onto them and are careful with them lest they be shared with everyone.
Because of the way in which it is described -- “Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples" -- the multiplication of the loaves and fish has always made us think of the multiplication of that other bread, which is the body of Christ.
For this reason the most antique representations of the Eucharist are of a basket containing loaves of bread and, on the sides, two fish, like the mosaic discovered in Tabga in Palestine, in the church erected on the site of the multiplication of the loaves, or in the famous fresco in the catacombs of Priscilla.
At bottom, even that which we are doing in this moment with this commentary is a multiplication of loaves -- the loaves of bread of the word of God. I have broken open the bread of the word and the Internet has multiplied my words -- but many more than 5,000 men, even this time, have eaten and are satisfied.
There remains this task: “picking up the fragments left over,” and bringing them also to those who did not participate in the banquet. We must be “repeaters” and witnesses of the message. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Sotto Voce