It's hard to imagine what it was like for the apostles to experience the feeding of the 5000 (Luke 9:10-17). Their incredulity was already provoked by Jesus telling them that they should be the ones to feed the multitude. "With what? A boy's lunch? Just send them away. Problem solved." Jesus was aware that more was at stake than empty bellies. In John's account we're told that Jesus knew what he was going to do and actually spoke to the problem first: "Lifting up his eyes . . . and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, 'Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?'" (John. 6:5) There was a vital lesson that he wanted to teach, the consequences of which would reach into eternity. But as the apostles served the crowd, would they not have been awe struck at the continual filling of the baskets? Where was it coming from? The all-sufficient supply would speak to the greater reality.
Jesus was the Word made flesh. His mission was to bring life, eternal life, to all who would receive him. Such life does not come as does natural life, through the consumption of ordinary food. Eternal life requires eternal food. And this is just what Jesus offers: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh" (John 6:51). This life-giving sacrifice is what we celebrate each week as we take the bread and wine together. Jesus, the Word made flesh, given so that we might never hunger or thirst again.
The breaking of the bread for the 5000 was a prefiguring of the Passover meal that Jesus would share with his apostles just prior to his passion, which, in turn, is a prefiguring of the great banquet to be shared by all who have placed their trust in him. It is at that divine table that we will experience what it means to never hunger or thirst. All of our human longings will be consummated, all of our needs will be satisfied, as we partake of the richness of that meal.
Surely, the apostles could not have envisioned where the miracle was pointing as they gathered the leftovers. But their obedience to the word of Jesus was an integral part of his purpose being realized. We have the benefit of the complete picture. We know where all is headed and we know how one gains a place at the table. May we be faithful to heed his call and dutifully distribute the Bread of Life.
