Matthew 15:29-37

Lectio (Reading)

Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.
At that time:
Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,
went up on the mountain, and sat down there.
Great crowds came to him,
having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute,
and many others.
They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.
The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking,
the deformed made whole,
the lame walking,
and the blind able to see,
and they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus summoned his disciples and said,
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
for they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
I do not want to send them away hungry,
for fear they may collapse on the way.”
The disciples said to him,
“Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place
to satisfy such a crowd?”
Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish,
gave thanks, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.

Meditatio (Reflecting)

Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.

He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied.

Oratio (Responding)

Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.

The stories of the feedings of 5000/4000 are some of the most clear prefigurements we have of the Eucharist, and it is inextricably tied to Jesus’ mission while here on earth. So if you don’t understand the story of the bread you will never understand the story of Jesus. These stories of feeding are there to prepare us for the ultimate bread, and the ultimate feast that Jesus gives us in the eucharist, on the eve of his passion at the last supper.

For some context, the miracle of feeding 5000 took place in jewish territory. It fed all of the Jews from 5 loaves, leaving 12 baskets (referencing the 12 tribes of isreal). This miracle places Jesus as the new moses feeding isreal with new bread, new mana from heaven. The miracle of 4000 took place in gentile territory. It fed all the gentiles from 7 loaves leaving 7 baskets (referencing the number of the covenant and the 7 gentile peoples in the land of canaan. This miracle places Jesus as the new moses feeding the gentiles with new bread.

Why was there less left over for the Gentiles? St. Jerome suggests it was because they were hungrier. “Four thousand men—fewer certainly in number, but greater in faith. The one who is greater in faith eats more, and because he does, there is less left over!” The jewish people had less to learn from Jesus, because they knew the Father, and they lived the law, but they were complacent, and lazy about their faith. The gentiles on the other hand took longer to understand and had much more to learn, but once they knew the truth they were far hungrier to know more. Isn’t this the way with all things? Converts always make better catholics then those that were born into it.

There is so much to cover with regard to these miracles, but the main message for today, is that Jesus meets us where we are, and brings us to the truth in the way that we will best be able to understand at that time. So pay attention and be opened, because He is always speaking to you.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)

Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.

Oh Lord, help me to today to listen to your word, to let it work in my heart and in my life. Let me be opened to the grace you want to pour out on me and my life.