Those pastors and congregations following the three-year lectionary have recently been hearing about the Feeding of the Five Thousand (from St. Mark 6) and our Lord’s subsequent Bread of Life discourse (from St. John 6). And last month, those following the historic one-year lectionary heard about the Feeding of the Four Thousand (from St. Mark 8), also recorded by St. Matthew (in chapter 15). All told, there are six accounts of these two miraculous feedings!
The importance of these accounts is also indicated in a couple other places. For example, when Jesus walks on the water and then calms the storm following the Feeding of the Five Thousand, St. Mark writes that the disciples were “utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened” (St. Mark 6:51-52). And again, following the Feeding of the Four Thousand, when the disciples were wondering and worried about the lack of any bread in the boat with them, Jesus quizzed them on the two feeding miracles, asking rhetorically, “Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?” (St. Mark 8:17-18).
It is clear that the feeding miracles were intended to catechize the disciples to believe and trust in Christ Jesus, and not simply to meet the temporal hunger of the people who were fed. Indeed, in His Bread of Life discourse, our Lord contrasts a faithful recognition of His Signs for what they were with the desires and intentions of those who ate their fill of the loaves (St. John 6:26).
Now, to be sure, our gracious Lord does provide daily bread and all that we need for this body and life on earth, and we should rest ourselves in the peace and confidence of His providential care. Yet, let us also heed the admonition and encouragement of our Lord, to “not work for the food that perishes, but for the Food that endures to eternal Life” (St. John 6:27). As He likewise instructs in the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on” (St. Matthew 6:25).
The “incident of the loaves” signifies the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, accomplished by His Cross and Resurrection. And this same Sign points to the authority of His Word, with which He distributes the fruits and benefits of His Cross and Resurrection by forgiving sins, bestowing life, pouring out His Holy Spirit, and even feeding us with Himself for the salvation of body and soul.
To my dear brother pastors who are called to preach and teach His Word and to administer His good gifts: Take heart that He is accomplishing His purposes, not only through you, but for you. As He does indeed provide your daily bread, so surely does He also feed you with His Word and Sacrament for the Resurrection of your body and the Life everlasting of your body and your soul.
By the same token, let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid! Your dear Father in heaven knows all your needs and well provides them (St. Matthew 6:32-33). And as the same God and Father has not spared His only Son, but has given Him up for you and for all people – and as that same beloved Son, Christ Jesus, has not only given Himself for you but now also gives Himself to you in love – so does He provide you with all that is needed, even as He guards and protects you from all evil. You are safe and at home with Him in the boat of His Church, no matter the winds and waves that assail you on all sides. Remember the Loaves, and take heart!