[They] filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.

This passage deals with the most important miracle in Jesus’ life. It is not only mentioned in all four gospels, but gets double billing in Mark and Matthew. No other miracle gets as much attention. Commentators are quick to point out the eucharistic dimensions of this miracle. Jesus takes, blesses, breaks, and gives the bread and fish to his Twelve disciples to distribute to the crowd. We have here the four verbs found in the accounts of the institution of the Eucharist.

Saint Augustine draws attention to this miracle as a figure of the Eucharist, stating, “Christ granted the crowds this consolation over bodily hunger…. But that miracle was bread for the body. See here also the Bread for the spirit.” God can make much of what we offer. The boy with the small lunch seems to have had little to offer, but what he brought fed the crowds. We often feel that we have little to offer in the service of Jesus. His work today, however, depends on our cooperation with him.

Finally, note that the gathering of the fragments, where nothing is wasted, symbolizes the abundance of God’s grace in the economy of salvation. It also reminds the disciples that each of them has a bag of leftovers. Jesus provides in abundance, but he depends on each of us to continue feeding the multitude in our own world. Every action in the eucharistic celebration is charged with significance, from the preparation of the gifts to the communion and the dismissal, sending us forth to live what we have celebrated.

What do I do with the fragments that Jesus has entrusted to me?

Let Us Pray:

O Jesus, you have entrusted so much to me. Give me your compassionate heart so that I can share your Bread with all those in need.