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[Isaiah 55:1-3; Romans 8:35, 37-39; and Matthew 14:13-21]

     "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves."  But they said to him, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have here."  Then he said, "Bring them here to me."  [Matthew]

     The multiplication of the loaves and fishes was important enough in the traditions about Jesus to appear in all four of the gospels!!  The eucharistic overtones are rather prominent in this first of two reports in the Gospel According to Matthew.  (Scripture scholars whether they may be two separate traditions of the same event.)  Note that Jesus says a blessing, breaks the bread and gives it to the disciples to distribute.  That sequence of gestures should be familiar to all of us.  (We can be grateful that the dried fish fell off the menu!)  

     What captures my attention, however, is the dialog between Jesus and the disciples at the beginning of the story in which the disciples ask him to dismiss the crowds to go and find food to eat.  Jesus challenges them to feed the crowd.  It is then that the disciples learn that with the help of Jesus they can participate in one of his mighty deeds.  I know in my own pastoral experience the sense of helplessness that can overwhelm in the face of all the needs presented by parishioners.  Sometimes one has to give the situation to God and a way forward providentially appears.  This is a reminder to pastors that they are the earthen vessels for God's feedings and not God themselves!!!  Isaiah's image in the first scripture for today speaks of God feeding the people.  Today we celebrate this at every Eucharist.  As the theologian, John Shea, says, "Gather the people, tell the story, break the bread!"  Or, "Say the blessing, break the bread and give it to the hungry ones."  

     The current pandemic may help us to realize how important that hunger truly is.  AMEN