Feb.12. Lectionary 334

Scripture: Lectionary 334. Genesis:9-24. Psalm 90:2.3-4.5-6.12-13. Mark
8:1-10.

Mark has two feedings of the crowd. The first is given in chapter 6:32-44
where 5000 are fed; the second in our present chapter 8:1-10, 4000 are fed.
Matthew follows Mark's tradition and has both feedings, the first in
chapter 14:13-21; the second in chapter 15:32-39. Luke has only one
feeding of 5000 in chapter 9:10b-17. John has a feeding of 5000 in chapter
6:1-15. Scripture scholars call this "multiple attestation" since the
miracle is given six times. It seems that there may have been only one
feeding, the 5000 since all four gospels contain it, but this is simply
conjecture. Matthew follows Mark more closely than the other two
evangelists and Mark is certainly the prime source for the formation of the
Gospels in addition to the oral traditions and the sayings that may have
been collected (so called "Q" source from the word in German which means
well or source, "Quelle".

The miracle is very important and it also is used to understand the
Eucharist once the canonical gospels are affirmed and theologians and
saints reflect and comment upon it. The words that Jesus uses are found in
the Eucharistic celebration: he "took" the seven loaves, and having given
"thanks" (eucharistein), he "broke" them and gave them to his disciples. We
notice that Jesus "blessed" the few small fish and commanded them to be set
before them. It was the compassion of Jesus for the hungry crowds that led
him to perform this outstanding miracle.

The evangelists show great respect for the early traditions that were
orally handed down since they did not wish to leave aside anything that
Jesus said and did. We therefore are fortunate to have these six accounts
which help the scholars to see the mutual dependence of an evangelist upon
another and then the later evangelists to focus on one of the feedings,
that of the 5000. We see that the giving of the loaves and fish is an act
of generosity, love and compassion on the part of Jesus. No wonder then
these accounts would help the churches the apostles left behind with an
easy application of the events to the Eucharistic celebrations of the early
churches.

We also see how Jesus never uses his miraculous power to control or simply
to exercise it, since he was always careful to do something extraordinary
for those who were in need. There was not any concept of might is right,
nor of power being so important to lord it over people. The ill, the
strarving and thirsty, the possessed and the marginal were the purpose of
Jesus using his miracles to help them. He often tells the ones healed to
be quiet about it and not spread the news about it.

The next time we receive the Eucharist we may wish to think about one of
these six narratives and to thank God for his magnanimous generosity toward
those who experienced the miracle and to us who receive the Lord almost as
often as we wish. Amen.