The Sunday Sermon Archive

Dear Friends in Christ,

In today's Gospel reading, we find the second miracle of the multiplication of bread and fish. In both instances, the people followed Jesus because of the miraculous cures and healings that He gave. They were eager to be near Him and to hear Him. In their eagerness, they forgot their bodies' needs and hence ran short of nourishment. Jesus performed a miracle to feed them, but then immediately departed from them so that they could not make Him their earthly king.

Jesus could have made food for them from nothing, or He could have given them the strength they needed without needing to eat. The multiplication of bread and fish is an obvious preparation for the institution of the Holy Eucharist. The physical bread is God's gift, but Jesus wants us to rise above the material things and focus our attention upon spiritual ones.

In front of the crowd, Jesus does not strongly rebuke the apostles. Instead, after the miracle, Jesus left by boat so that the people could no longer follow Him. Once they were away from the people, Jesus uses much stronger language to instruct and correct the apostles' lack of faith and understanding.

The Gospel continues: "When His disciples were come over the water, they had forgotten to take bread. Who said to them: Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." St. John Chrysostom gives us insight into this passage.

"Why did He not say openly, 'Beware of their teaching?' He wishes, of course, to bring back to their mind the miracle that had taken place; for He knew they had already forgotten it. But it did not seem opportune to censure them openly then; though, as they gave Him occasion to do so, He made the reproof tolerable. And why did He not reprove them when they said, 'Whence should we have so many loaves in the wilderness?' For then seemed a good time to correct them. He did not do so that He might not seem, as it were, to be rushing at the miracle. And besides He did not wish to correct them before the people or make a display of His own authority. Now correction was more called for: that they should be so forgetful after two such miracles."

"And so, after another miracle, He rebukes them; for He laid before them the thoughts they were thinking in their hearts. And what were they thinking? They were thinking: 'He says this because we have taken no bread.' For they were still concerned about Judaic purification and observances regarding food. And so because of this He upbraids them very sharply, saying to them: 'Why do ye think within yourselves, O ye of little faith, for that you have no bread. Do you not yet understand; neither do you remember?' Your heart is still blind; having eyes you see not; having ears you hear not. 'Do you not remember the five loaves among five thousand men, and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves among four thousand men, and how many baskets you took up?'"

"You see here displeasure stretched to the utmost. In no other place is He seen to rebuke them in this manner. Why did He act so? That once again He might drive out of their minds their notions regarding foods. So, on the previous occasion, He said only: 'Are you yet without understanding? Do you not understand?' but here, rebuking them fiercely, He says: 'O ye of little faith.' For not everywhere is mildness to be used. As He allowed them to speak freely, so He corrects them in the same way; and in this change of manner He is seeking their welfare, for you see here both severity and great mildness. … He reminds them of the number who ate, as well as of how much remained; that at the same time He might both make them mindful of past events, and more attentive to future ones."

"And to show us how efficacious His rebuke was, how it sharpened their torpid minds, hear what the Evangelist says. For when Jesus had finished speaking, and after rebuking them had added: 'Why do you not understand that it was not concerning bread I said to you: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,' the Evangelist notes: 'Then they understood that He said not that they should beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' However, the Lord had not so interpreted these words. But see the good His rebuke did. It led them away from the Jewish observances, and from being heedless as they had been before, they became attentive to what He said to them. And He took them out of their littleness of faith, so that they were not afraid, nor apprehensive, when they had but a few loaves, nor concerned about hunger, but indifferent to all things."

"And neither should we be always yielding to those subject to us; nor wish to be sheltered by those placed over us, for the human mind needs either remedy. And it is in this way God orders all things, and now does this and now does that; and allows neither good things nor bad to continue permanently. For it is now day, and now night, and now winter, and now summer, so within us we have now pleasure, now pain, now sickness, now health. And we should not wonder if we are sick; since we ought rather wonder that we are well. Nor let us be troubled should sorrow come; for since we are given happiness, it is reasonable that we should also have sorrow. For all things come to us in accord with nature, and with the order of things. Let us keep all these things in our mind, so that we may escape final punishment, and attain to everlasting blessings, through the grace and mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom be there glory to the Father and to the Holy and Life-giving Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen."

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspire, guide, and protect us.

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