Scripture: I John 4:7-10. Psalm 72:1-2; 3-4.7-8. Mark 6:34-44. Lectionary #
214:

In this week after Epiphany we are nourished again and again by God's
word in the perspective of certain manifestations of the glory and strength
of Jesus. In our selection from Mark we come to realize that the miracle
of the loaves and the fish are accompanied by Jesus' words of thanksgiving
to God. We know and believe that God's words are manifestations given to
us directly by Jesus in the Gospels. They are proclamations for us that
help us grow into his likeness by carefully listening and assmilating the
meaning and purpose of those sacred words.

We are that hungry crowd that needs to be fed both staple healthy
food (it was bread and fish in those days) and spiritual food for the
hungry souls that we are. Jesus first takes care of our bodily needs
through the multiplication of the loaves and fish, then he shows us how to
thank God through our prayer of praise and blessings. We pick up on the
words of Jesus and realize that besides the miracle of nature there is one
of the spirit and Jesus prays the followling: "Jesus raised his eyes toward
heaven, pronounced a blessing, broke the loaves and gave them to his
disciples to distribute."

We know that Mark wrote this narrative account some forty years after
the death of Jesus and that he not only writes to remember the happening
but also to apply it to what is happening in the Christian assembly of his
day. We too do the same. The words are similar to what we hear at the
Eucharist. In fact, the word "eucharist" is used in the Koine Greek by Mark
as he gives us this prayer of Jesus. Eucharist is Thanksgiving in Greek and
the perfect act of Thanksgiving is the Bread of Life for which we thank God
for the gift of Jesus' presence among us in Word and Sacrament. Sacraments
are always visible signs of our faith seen in natural elements but added to
these signs are sacred words which through the gift of the Spirit are
transformed into saving events for our lives.

Mark definitely had his community in mind when he narrates this
miracle. He wants them to realize it also signified the Eucharist for his
listeners and readers. We do not lose sight of the original miracle of the
multiplication but the Eucharistic theme is what touches us today as the
manifestation of God's presence in our lives. It is another epiphany of the
Lord and we are to savor it. Just as Jesus was first aware of the needs of
the poor in the crowd, and for that matter, the crowd itself, so too, are
we led to be aware of those in need of nourishment after we receive the
Eucharist. It is a call to go forth and actually do something for the
poor, not just offer prayers. In us the timing of the actions of the story
are reversed. We receive the Eucharist and then go forth to help others;
Jesus became aware of the needy crowd and then said the words over the
multiplied breads and fish that were then distributed. Jesus gave himself
to the crowds and he gives himself to us each day. Epiphanies happen each
day. Let us thank God that they do. Amen.