The gospel lesson for this Sunday comes from Matthew 14:14-22 where Jesus shares a special meal outdoors with the people who came to hear him.
As the night approaches, His disciples encourage Him to disperse the people to go to the villages since they are in a remote area and there are only five loaves and two fishes to feed the multitude. Jesus commands that the people come to Him and he breaks the bread and feeds the five thousand with 12 additional baskets of crumbs still left. This miracle of the multiplication of the loaves is reported in four Gospels and serves as an image of Jesus, the Messiah feeding His people.
You can recall in the Old Testament when the Israelites had escaped from Egypt and were faced with terrible hunger in the wilderness, God sent manna to satisfy His people. So it was not unusual that in the days of Jesus’ earthly life that God again acted by sending His Son to feed His people not only with bread but also with the truth of His teaching.
The Church Fathers have interpreted the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand as an anticipation of the Holy Eucharist in which Christ offers Himself to us as the Heavenly bread. The Holy Eucharist is a continuation of the Last Supper, a Mystical meal, which we as Christians share with one another. In another way we Orthodox Christians celebrate this miracle in the blessing of the loaves following Vespers on a Holyday, for it symbolizes and reminds us of the miracle of sharing, joy, and unity among those who believe and delight in Christ Jesus.
