Dear Friends,

The summer season is well upon us! One of my favorite summer activities is eating outside – picnicking – and enjoying the natural beauty of our heavenly Father’s creation. I encourage all of the faithful to spend as much time as possible in the great outdoors and give thanks for such a splendid creation.

The context of today’s gospel passage narrating the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 is a picnic of sorts. And what a picnic! There were well over 5000 people gathered outdoors to hear our Lord’s saving message and to witness healings of the sick. They were drawn by the simplicity, beauty and wisdom of His teaching as well as His great compassion.

When evening approached the disciples suggested that Jesus send the crowds away so that they could go and buy food for themselves. However, Jesus said that everyone should stay put, sit down on the grass and that the disciples would feed them. How could the disciples feed over 5000 with the meager five loaves of bread and two fishes in their possession?

The passage continues that Jesus (called the Bread of Life in John’s gospel) took the bread and fish, looked up to heaven, blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples and they distributed them to the crowds. Not only were the people satisfied, but also there were twelve baskets of bread left over!

The church Fathers tell us that this miracle (mentioned in all four gospels) prefigures our blessed Lord’s institution of the sacrament of Holy Communion at His Last Supper. Each Sunday when we gather we participate in what is truly a miracle – for we believe that by the power of the Holy Spirit the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of our Lord. Similar to the miracle of the feeding of the 5000, the celebrant distributes communion to all the faithful and with just a few small pieces of bread he is able to satisfy the spiritual hunger of all.

As our Lord Jesus blessed that great picnic gathering by providing for their physical needs, may He bless our various gatherings of the summer and continue to feed us with the essential spiritual food.
   

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With prayers.
Hayr Simeon
June 22, 2008