Loaves and Fish
Before we moved to California, my dad used to go to church with us. It was kind of a compromise, really. When he was off on Sundays and not working, we’d all sit in a pew and listen to the Homily.
My dad is not a reverent sort, and he often made comments to me during the Homily — things like, “If that poor man didn’t have any clothes except what he was wearing, the king should not have punished the man for coming to the wedding poorly dressed, when he invited him in the first place.”
I happened to agree with my dad. Which is why I didn’t require anyone wear anything specific to my wedding.
I always remember, though, his interpretation of the loaves and the fishes.
While the priest was expounding about the wonder of God, in that He provides for everyone, my dad nudged me and said, “People brought their own food. What was left in the baskets was their leftovers.”
I personally agree with him.
I believe the miracle was the generosity of people, when the need arose. People who had food happily shared it with others, so that plenty was had by all, with even more to spare. The people who shared, did so quietly, so that it seemed a miracle. And it wasn’t, really. There are good people everywhere, who say little but do much.
My car’s alternator broke again last week. My neighbor was sitting outside getting one last smoke before going to work, and he stopped to help me jump my car. Did he perform a miracle? I’d surely say so.
When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him, and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”
He replied, “You give them something to eat.”
They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish — unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” (About five thousand men were there.)
But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” The disciples did so, and everybody sat down. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
– Luke 9:10-9:17 NIV
There is no mention that Jesus performed a miracle. In fact. . .
The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.” Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.”
– Mark 8:11-8:13 NIV
