Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels. The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude pointed to God’s provision of manna (bread) in the wilderness for the people of Israel under Moses’ leadership. When the people complained to Moses that they would die of hunger in the barren wilderness, God told Moses that he would “rain bread from heaven” for them to eat. The miraculous provision of bread foreshadows the true heavenly bread which Jesus offers his followers who believe in him. Jesus makes a claim only God can make: He is the “bread of life” and the “true bread of heaven” that sustains us now and for all eternity.

Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand points to the superabundance of the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist. In the Old Covenant bread and wine were offered as a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Creator who made the earth fruitful to nourish and strengthen all his creatures. Melchizedek’s offering prefigured the offering made by Jesus, our great high priest and king who gave a new and distinctive meaning to the blessing of the bread and the cup of wine when he instituted the “Lord’s Supper” or “Eucharist” on the eve of his sacrifice on the cross. Every year in commemoration of the Exodus deliverance, the Jewish people celebrate a Passover meal with unleavened bread as a pledge of God’s faithfulness to his promises. The “cup of blessing” at the end of the Jewish Passover meal points to the messianic expectation when the future Redeemer, the Messiah King will come to rebuild his holy city Jerusalem.

At Jesus’ last supper meal, after he had poured the final blessing cup of wine and had given thanks to his Father in heaven, he gave it to his disciples and said, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Jesus did this as a memorial of his death, which would take place the next day on the cross of Calvary, and his resurrection which occurred on the third day—Easter morning. The shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross fulfilled once and for all the old covenant sacrifice of the paschal lamb at Passover time. That is why John the Baptist had prophetically called Jesus the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Jesus made himself an offering and a sacrifice, a perfect gift that was truly pleasing to the Father in heaven. He “offered himself without blemish to God” and “gave himself as a sacrifice to God.” When we receive from the Lord’s table, we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ who makes us sharers in his body and blood. This supernatural food is healing for both body and soul and strength for our journey heavenward.

The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist is an intimate union with Christ. As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens us in charity and enables us to break with disordered attachments to creatures and to be more firmly rooted in the love of Christ. We shall hunger for the “bread of life” every day of our lives. He will heal us, cure us and keep us as His own always.

God Bless you all.

Fr. Charley