The Holy Great-Martyr Artemius (360-363).
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Colossians 2:1-7; Luke 9:12-17.
Read Luke 9:12-17
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
The feeding of the five thousand is an amazing and powerful moment in the life and ministry of Christ. It shows us that Jesus is that Divine presence of love, care and power, which the people in the Old Testament experienced. St. Cyril of Alexandria writes:
“The feeding of the multitudes in the desert by Christ is worthy of all admiration. But it is also profitable in another way. We can plainly see that these new miracles are in harmony with those of ancient times. They are the acts of one and the same power. He rained manna in the desert upon the Israelites. He gave them bread from heaven. “Man did eat angels’ food,”* according to the words of praise in the Psalms. But look! He has again abundantly supplied food to those who needed food in the desert. He brought it down, as it were, from heaven. Multiplying that small amount of food many times and feeding so large a multitude, so to speak, with nothing, is like that first miracle.” (Commentary on Luke, Homily 48).
We see the one and same God acting in Old and the New Testament. This is why St. Paul says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8). This aught to give us reassurance in knowing something about the unchanging nature of the Divine. God, who is love, cares for all people and extends His generous blessings upon all; especially those who belong to Him, who serve Him and obey Him—for by doing so we become close and open our hearts to the spiritual grace, which comes from having a relationship with the living God and leads us to eternal life. Take a moment today to reflect on all the physical and spiritual blessings received and to thank God for His generous gifts through which he takes care of you.
Bible References