Five Loaves and Two Fish

Today’s Gospel opens with Jesus’ hearing of the beheading of John the Baptist by King Herod. Accompanied by his disciples, Jesus goes off to pray and perhaps grieve by themselves. This retreat is interrupted by a large crowd who come looking for him. They bring their sick to be healed and when it grows late his disciples urge Jesus to send them all away. Jesus had seen them as the lost - like sheep without a shepherd and his heart was opened to them.

The stage is set for the “Feeding of the Five Thousand.” The elements of the drama are familiar to us. The disciples have five loaves and two fish and they want Jesus to send the crowds to get their own dinner. Jesus takes, blesses and distributes enough for all and for left-overs as well.

It is tempting and perhaps proper to reflect on these readings in terms of the Eucharist and how we are distributed being so limited. In John’s Gospel this story does have Eucharistic overtones. For Matthew and his readers there is something more particular and meaningful.

Matthew’s Gospel centers Jesus as the Promised Messiah of Israel. He is sent to the “lost sheep of Israel.” The crowd upon whom Jesus has “pity” represents then the lost nation of the Jews. The past three weeks we have heard parables concerning the religious leaders of this people. The Baptist has completed his work and is off stage now. Jesus takes center position and demonstrates in this narrative exactly what He has been sent to do. He is the seer, the One who cures and the one who feeds and above all, does not send them away empty, but remains committed to their well-being. Next week the Gospel will picture Jesus’ not abandoning the disciples either. Today’s reading emphasizes the basic theme of Matthew. Jesus is born in Israel to bring life back to Israel and will live and die for the people of Israel first.

A recent wind and rain storm hit our city and a tree branch broke one of our windows. We called the window-man who seemed quite happy to find employment in our regard. The taxi driver seemed quite happy to have me as his passenger from the airport. My dentist seems almost sadistically joyful to find me back in his comfortable chair. Our image of the invisible God might picture God as so jealous that if we only come calling in our emptiness, well it’s all or nothing.

God is more faithful than the fixers, the drivers and healers of this world. We might be embarrassed by our now-and-then relationship with this loving God who by name is infinite. This God waits for us, waits to be gracious, and waits for us to come, yes, now-and-then to the realization of our central human truth. We are finite, empty-at-times, incomplete, and stubborn to admit all of this.

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