Today, we begin reading from the Gospel of Jn, Chapter 6. Although, in the final moments of Jesus’ earthly life, precisely at the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Eucharist, Jn 6 is a very unique passage that systematically develops the theology of the Eucharist. As such, we shall be reading from this Chapter of John’s Gospel until next week Friday.
The miracle of the multiplication of loaves is a sign.
Today’s passage is given against the backdrop of Jesus feeding the multitude – 5,000 in number. Hence, it is known as the passage of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. However, without wishing to dwell on the many minute details John gave – details such as Philip’s reaction to Jesus’ enquiry of where to get food; or Andrew’s input to the hunger crisis, where he spoke of a boy who apparently was hawking bread and fish, with just five loaves and two fish left, and so on. Rather, I would like to draw our attention to the context and significance of this passage:
- John noted that the people came to Jesus because of the signs they saw; namely how Jesus healed the infirm.
- The narrative of this feeding of the multitude/multiplication of loaves, which was another sign, is given within the context of one of the Principal Jewish feast, the feast of Passover.
N/B: The Passover feast was a feast celebrated in remembrance of the Israelites’ liberation and exodus from Egypt. The core of this feast is tied to the instructions that were given to them as indicated in Ex 12:43-51, where a lamb was slaughtered and the blood used to mark the lintel of their houses to prevent the angel of death from entering the Jews’ families.
Jesus offers Himself as the Lamb of God.
Against the backdrop of this understanding, Jesus upgraded the meaning and significance by offering Himself as the Lamb of God. This update from the O.T. Passover to the N.T. Eucharist came to fruition when Jesus was crucified around the feast of Passover as well.
In the coming days, as we continue reading this passage of Jn 6, we will hear Jesus explicitly saying: “I am the bread of life. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live forever” c/f Jn 6:54.
Jesus still manifests Himself with signs in the Eucharist.
Our take home message for today therefore is: just as the sign of healing the sick drew the people closer to Jesus, and more so, the sign of the multiplication of the loaves made them to say ‘This is truly the prophet,…’ such that they wanted to crown Him as their king, in the Church, Jesus still manifests Himself with signs in the Eucharist, which we see in the form of bread and wine, and by extension to other sacraments. That is why the sacraments are understood to be outward signs of inward grace.
Furthermore, as noted earlier, this text will be read until Friday next week. The intent of the Church is also to help deepen the faith of all who received their First Holy Communion during the Easter vigil. Let us feel drawn to Jesus daily by allowing our souls and spirits to be fed by Him through His Words and the Eucharist, for He is the Bread of Life.
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