On every special day families and societies join together to eat. Nutrition is the means to grow physically, intellectually and spiritually. For this reason modern man issues forth the brilliant reflection that we “are what we eat.” This has the quality of a universal truth. This is a truth which applies to the physical, intellectual and spiritual orders of life. When we apply the universal rule to our lives then everything falls into correct order so then let us proceed to penetrate the meaning of the multiplication of the loaves.
Notice that the crowd (4000 men) will not leave the presence of our Lord for all their physical ills were healed by His action. Jesus would not send the crowd away lest their physical strength fail them on the way. Hence feed their bodies but with what? The disciples inform our Lord that they have but seven loaves and a few fish. With God a little is only the beginning of the immense. So have the crowd sit down and then Jesus blesses the bread and gives the blessed bread to his apostles who then distribute them to the men. It is repeated with the fish. Now the physical feeding is complete. It is time to move to the intellectual nourishment.
In the divine order the word precedes the work. The physical under the blessing of the divine Lord produces a food that the intellect must recognize as superior to anything on this earth. This apparent physical food satisfied not only the body but the mind and the soul. With the physical healings and the intellect enlightened, the soul finds the meaning of it all in the mission given to the disciples and then to the people. The mission is to let the world know that the word of God is creative, prophetic and eternal.
Everything about the compassionate Jesus encourages our heart to sing out the song of eternal love. In Him we live and move and have our being. So the multiplication of the loaves and fish enlighten the intellect to recognize that God so loves us that He sent His only begotten Son to provide us with the divine nourishment: His Body and His Blood.
Whenever we attend the holy mass we are being challenged physically, intellectually and spiritually. Physically, we present the ailments of our bodies as sacrifices to the Lord to be united upon His Cross of Suffering for the purification of our souls and for the salvation of other souls. Intellectually, we join with the holy priest taking the place of Jesus Himself to call upon the Precious Blood to ransom every soul created by God. Spiritually, we are lifted up to carry out our mission to the all the souls in this world. Our union within the Mystical Body is fed by this unique and divine food.
What a shame that so many do not take the time to prepare for this marvelous food from heaven. The manna fed the Jews for forty years but this Eucharist will nourish the soul forever. To the extent that we intellectually affirm this divine and eternal fact we come to increase the flow of Christ’s life within us.
By this miracle the apostles were shown that Christ trust them to go forth and feed the multitude year after year until that final day set apart by the Father for the conclusion of this world of judgment. The words they will speak to men will be confirmed by the miraculous work which is performed by them in Jesus’ name.
Could this miraculous gift be ours without the intercession of our Blessed Mother. Only by her “fiat” could we receive the eternal gift of the divine Body and Blood of her unique Son. How often we should turn to her to help us plunge into the mystery of the holy Eucharist. In this mysterious union we receive that precious food that harmonizes with the Love found in the heart of God. Turn to our Lady and you will discover the mystery of the Son. In her rosary we have a physical expression of our ability to grow in Christ through the meditation it offers us. Let this multiplication bring about the divine rule in our hearts, minds and souls.
In the hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
Fr. Voigt
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