The miracle of the feeding of the four thousand is a miracle
of generosity. It is a miracle that also recalls the miracle of the great
prophet Elisha (in 2 Kings 4:42-44) when he multiplied 20 barley loaves to feed
100 men, with some left over.
The miracle also prefigures the sacrament of the Holy
Eucharist. In the account, our Lord takes,
gives thanks, breaks and then gives
them food (Mt 15v36). This pattern is the pattern of the holy Mass. Through His
disciples the multitude, over whom Jesus expresses much compassion, are fed. So
He also with compassion feeds us through His disciples today. But he not only feeds us, He also
calls us to go out. The Lord has taken
us, we give thanks for the Eucharist and are given new life
through it, and we then go out into the world. Going out into the world we come
into conflict just as Jesus did, who was broken
on the cross for our salvation. So we also suffer because we witness to Christ
in our lives. Our suffering is united to His suffering, and because His
suffering is redemptive, so our suffering participates in His redemption. By
our witness and suffering in the world, others can be given the new life they so desperately need. The pattern of the
Eucharist is also the pattern for effective mission.
The superabundant generosity of God is nowhere more
manifested than in the Holy Eucharist. For the Eucharist is the superabundance
of the Father’s gift of His Son to the world for our salvation.
Fr Ian
