“They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over – twelve wicker baskets full.” Mt 14, 20

“They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over – twelve wicker baskets full.” Mt 14, 20

The miraculous multiplication of the five loaves and two fishes has a two-fold meaning.

First of all, it is an image of the Eucharist, the life-giving fountain of spiritual nourishment and help for Christians.

Secondly, it is an invitation for humans to cooperate with God, to become co-creators of a joyous life of love and abundance.

Jesus, in a miraculous way, fed all those who came to hear His teaching.  He did not neglect to feed any of those, who left their homes and affairs to come to Him, those who gave priority to spiritual needs.

A person, who leaves the concerns of life for the sake of meeting God in the Church, receives much more than could be obtained only by his or her own efforts.

Jesus makes use of fish and bread, both products of human labor. Jesus wishes, in this manner, to assure us that God values and multiplies our sacrifice. If a person, because of their trust in God, donates; God will give them a hundredfold in return for their sacrifice.

This example of sacrifice is an illustration of the fact that human beings even here and now are called to cooperate with God, are called to be co-creators of the society of love.

fr. A.R.