Tuesday after Epiphany – 04th January 2022 — Gospel: Mark 6,34-44
Witness of Human Instruments
The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle that is found in all four Gospels: Mt 14,13-21; Mk 6,34-44; Lk 9,10-17; Jn 6,1-15. While details differ, what is common are the numbers: with five loaves and two fish, five thousand are fed and twelve baskets are gathered. In this situation, Jesus begins to teach those who came to him, but he asks his disciples to provide them with food. Does Jesus need the disciples’ help to provide for the physical needs of the crowd? Of course not. However, the disciples are shown in a bad light. Their response to Jesus’ demand, “you give them something to eat”, is sarcastic. They stress the impossibility of what Jesus charges them to do and they ridicule that charge. In another sense, Jesus chooses to work through human instruments. He responds by asking them to do what they are told. When they find out that there are only five loaves and two fish, they are ordered to ask the crowd to sit down in groups. In their own eyes, the disciples witness the miracle. From these five loaves and two fish, they have enough to feed more than five thousand people. Finally, the disciples gather what is left over which signify the abundance of the miracle. Indeed, Jesus’ action overrules the reluctance of the disciples, wherein, not only do people have enough, they have more than enough.
