The feeding of the 5,000
by David Morson
Have you ever thought what Heaven would be like? I often think it would be like good times we experience on earth, such as meals and celebrations with friends. Just like The Wedding Feast at Cana, Jewish Scriptures likened our relationship with God as one of feasting. In Isaiah 25,6-8 and Proverbs 9, 1-5. God’s Kingdom was akin to sharing a Meal. As in Psalm 132,11-12, it is also seen as a promise of salvation.
Both of these themes emerge from Jesus' Miracle of the Feeding of 5000, but most significantly is once again the reality of a New Covenant.
In the Book of Numbers Chapter 11, the story is told how when Moses had led the people out of Egypt, they started to complain about the lack of food. There is a remarkable similarity between what Moses helpers say to him about the crowd being hungry and them having few provisions in verses 13-22 and the prelude to Jesus' Miracle when Philip tells Jesus about the insufficient loaves and fishes. But this is no coincidence, St John is laying down clear parallels.
Moses appeals to God to sustain the People in the Desert. He has brought them out of Egypt, but not yet reached the Promised Land. He implores God to sustain His Covenanted People and God responds by providing Manna (Sweet Bread) from Heaven.
Whereas Moses asks God for a gift, in the Miracle of the Feeding of 5,000, Jesus Himself is The Gift .In both cases, Bread from Heaven embodies a saving event which gives them life. But in the case of Jesus, He is “The Bread Of Life”.
Unlike the three Synoptic Gospels, John does not record the institution of the Eucharist in the Last Supper, but in this Miracle and in the debate which follows, down to the end of Chapter 6. For St John, The Miracles are Signs pointing to when Jesus is “lifted up and embodies the physical glory or essence of God in His unconditional love for us all on the cross.
When Jesus refers to the Bread as His Body and the Wine to His Blood, He is referring to this saving event. Out of “asthenees” seeming hopelessness, comes Salvation in the form of God’s life offered to all who accept. When we partake of the “Eucharist”, the “Thanks giving” for Salvation, we are partaking in this sacrifice and life of God.
In the same way that earthly food is internalised, becomes part of us and gives energy and life, the Heavenly Bread is internalised to enable us to share in the “glory” or essence of God’s life of unconditional love. So, at the end of Mass at the dismissal. we are instructed to go out and share this Life Giving Food of Love with others, through our thoughts, words and all we do.