The multiplication of loaves is the only miracle (except the
Resurrection of course) that is recorded in all four gospels. We can assume
therefore that it was extremely important to the early Christians. Perhaps it
was more significant to them than it is for us? For us it might simply be a
miracle story amongst many others. But should we think of it as being more than
this?
So why was this miracle of multiplication of bread of such
importance? The first thing to realise is that this miracle of the feeding of
the multitude with bread was pointing towards the Eucharist. This is made very
clear in St John’s Gospel for the account comes at the very beginning of the
section that forms the basis of Catholic understanding of the Eucharist (John
6, especially vv.22-end). Out of compassion for the multitude that followed Him
into the hills, Christ nourishes them with bread and fish. They are fed so that
they were able to eat their fill.
The early Christians realised that in the Eucharist Christ
Himself, through His priests, feeds the multitude with miraculous food. The
risen Lord Himself comes to them in this feeding through the bread becoming His
flesh. John’s Gospel makes this very clear by the rest of chapter 6. For our
Lord calls Himself the “Bread of life” and says “the bread which I shall give
for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Now it was clearly, at that time, a difficult teaching to
accept (as it is still difficult for some Christians to accept today). We are
told, in John 6, that many disciples turned away at this teaching; it was too
hard to receive. But Jesus insists that “he who eats my flesh and drinks my
blood has eternal life” and, He says, they “abide in me”.
Another connection that John makes clear is that this
multiplication miracle took place at the time of the Passover, and thus we
remember that the Last Supper also was at the time of the Passover. For
Christians the New Passover is the Eucharist, when Christ’s redemptive
sacrifice on the cross is understood as the sacrifice of the eternal Passover lamb.
And He is made present in the Mass in His self-offering of Himself in the transubstantiation
of the bread and wine taken by the priest. His words at the Last Supper are
repeated again, “This is my body”, and “This is my blood.” In many ways it
could not be clearer, though it is of course difficult for us to accept without
faith.
One detail perhaps should give us pause for thought. In all
the miracles that Jesus performed, He always waits for and then accepts an act
of faith (consisting of total self-giving) followed by the exercise of divine
power. Here it is the trust that people place in Christ and their offering up
of the five loaves and two fishes. Let us never forget that in every Mass a
miracle occurs through divine power. And yes, we offer bread and wine, but our
Lord also waits for us to offer ourselves to Him sacrificially. This total
giving of self is what we should all be aiming at in each celebration of Mass
and it is the key for the miracle of the Eucharist to be transformative in our
lives.
Fr Ian
