18th A

18th Sunday A

Jesus feeding of the crowds according to Matthew.

INTRODUCTION: This Sunday we continue with the Gospel of St. Matthew in chapter 14. We listen to Matthew's account of the multiplication of the loaves. In Matthew's account the feeding follows Jesus response to hearing of John the Baptizer's death. "Now when Jesus heard this he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place/wilderness by himself". This is the fifth time in this gospel that withdrawal follows aggression from imperial power.

HOMILY: The miracle of feeding the five thousand is one of the few

miracles that is found in all four Gospels.

This account of the feeding would have triggered in Matthew's

hearers a number of other biblical stories. Our text says that when

Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, "he withdrew to a deserted

place by himself." When the disciples speak to him they say, "this is a

deserted place." In Exodus chapter 16 Moses was involved in feeding the

people with manna in the desert.

In the second book of Kings the great prophet Elisha multiplied food

for the hungry. He fed 100 men. So this passage looks back to the past.

Matthew is drawing out of his storeroom both the new and the old.

Matthew in telling this story stays close to the story as found in

Mark but he does have some significant changes. OMITS: In Mark's account

the disciples seem to rebuke Jesus for his suggesting that they feed the

people: "Do you want us to go and spend two hundred silver coins on

bread in order to feed them?" (Mark 6:37) Matthew drops this

inappropriate reference to the purse and money. ADDITION: In Matthew

Jesus says, "There is no need for them to disperse. Give them something

to eat yourselves." This change heightens the sovereign control of

Jesus. He knows what he will do. He involves the disciples. The

disciples reply, "All we have here are five loaves and two fish." This

reply fits precisely into Matthew's theology of discipleship. Without

Jesus, what they have is insufficient. Jesus ignores their objection and

issues another order involving the disciples. ADDITION: "Bring them

here." The main act is performed by Jesus alone. But then Jesus

involves the disciples again. "...gave the loaves to the disciples,

(ADDITION): who in turn gave them to the people."

We cannot hear the words used of Jesus action (taking, looking up,

breaking) (blessed and gave) without thinking of the Eucharist. In fact

one of our Eucharistic prayers transfers the action of "looking up" into

the institution account. If we compare Matthew's institution of the

Eucharist account we find many similar words. (26:26) Unlike Mk.

Matthew stresses the Eucharistic reference still further by (OMISSION)

omitting any action of Jesus as regards the fish. Matthew keeps the

reference to the collection of the fragments which also has Eucharistic

overtones. But he drops the reference to the fish when he talks about

the collection of fragments left over.

Jesus takes control as the host of the meal. The contrast with Herod's banquet (14:6-11) is stark. Warren Carter, "Whereas Herod and the elite trade in manipulation, immorality and death, Jesus' meal includes the crowds, promotes their well-being with healing the sick and supplying adequate food, and anticipates God's different future. God's new creation and empire, in which there is abundance for all."

Matthew makes his final ADDITION at the end of the story when he

increases the size of the miracle by adding to the five thousand, "not

counting women and children."

Matthew's account not only looks back to the past with Moses and

Elisha, but also looks to the future, he anticipates the Eucharist. The

Eucharist in turn anticipates the final banquet in the kingdom (Mt.

26:29) Hopes for the Messianic kingdom were painted as a lavish feast

with limitless food and drink (e.g. Is 25:6) In the story we hear that

"all those present ate their fill." Matthew increases the number of

those fed by saying that the five thousand did not count women and

children. We also hear of abundance, "The fragments which remained, when

gathered up, filled twelve baskets."

Lessons for us:

l) Without Jesus what we have is insufficient.

2) If we rely upon Jesus and his power, we will have

what we need to minister to others.

3) We are called to bring what we have to Jesus and

to allow him to direct us in the use of these things.

4) We are called to be involved in the ministry of

Jesus.

5) When we gather to celebrate the Eucharist we are

reminded of Jesus great ability to nourish us. Ours is a God of

generosity and abundance.