Our Father Among the Saints Athanasius the Great (373)
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Acts 13:13-24; John 6:5-14
Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
The first thing worth noting about today’s Gospel is that this is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels. Paralleling John 6:1-15, the feeding of the 5,000 is also described in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:32-44, and Luke 9:10-17. Furthermore, and rather uncharacteristically, some of the parallel incidental details are quite exact:
- The disciples need 200 denarii (a silver coin, about a day’s wage) to buy enough food to feed the multitude (Mk. 6:37; Jn. 6:7).
- Only five loaves and two fish are available (Mt. 14:17; Mk. 6:38; Lk. 9:13; Jn. 6:9).
- There are twelve baskets remaining after the people are fed (Mt. 12:20; Mk. 6:43; Lk. 9:17; Jn. 6:13).
- Five thousand men are fed (Mt. 12:21; Mk. 6:44; Lk. 9:14; Jn. 6:10).
- Following this event, Jesus walks on the Sea of Galilee (Mt. 14:22-33; Mk. 6:45-52; Jn. 6:16-21).
This all points to the fact that the miracle of the Feeding of the Multitude was so important to the early Christians that evangelists wrote it down. We see in today’s Gospel that mere human power was inadequate to feed such a crowd. When we find ourselves hungry for love, care, relationship, attention and support let us always be quick to run to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For He alone can give us food that will carry us to everlasting life!