Miraculous Multiplication and Sharing Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A

Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalm 145; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21

         Saint John Chrysostom interprets today’s Gospel passage as teaching us to share with one another humbly and lovingly. According to the saint’s interpretation, as cited by Brant Pitre, Jesus miraculously multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed thousands of men, women, and children who had gathered by Jesus. 

         In affirming the miraculous nature of this event, Saint John writes, “The five loaves [Jesus] broke and gave, and the five multiplied themselves in the hands of the disciples. And not even here does he stop the miracle, but he made them even to exceed; to exceed, not as whole loaves, but as fragments”.

         Saint John continues, “By giving away nothing more but bread and fish, proposing the same food to everyone and sharing it, and by offering one no more than to another, the Lord was teaching humility, self-control, and love.” ^[1]

         As is evident from his commentary, Saint John teaches both that a miracle occurred and that the crowd shared what they had with those they were with. Using our imagination, we can picture the first people receiving pieces of the original five loaves and two fish and then seeing them multiply in their hands; they do not keep the excess food for themselves but share it with those by them. Then, those who receive the excess food see it miraculously multiply in their hands and, following the example of those who gave it to them, share the extra food with those by them. This pattern of giving, receiving, and sharing continues until everyone in the crowd has sufficient food to eat.

         Bishop Barron distinguishes two cities: a city of evil, which we can name the city of Self-Love Only, and a city of good, which we can name the city of Love of God and of Neighbor. The two cities, as their names suggest, are distinguished by how their inhabitants understand sharing. In the city of Love of God and Neighbor, every inhabitant sees his neighbor as his own center according to the phrase, “your center is my center”. ^[2] Because of this view of their neighbor, whenever anyone in the city of Love of God and Neighbor is hungry, thirsty, and in need, his needs are met by his neighbors, since his center is also viewed as their center; his concerns and needs are understood as theirs.

         However, in the city of Self-Love Only, every inhabitant sees his center as unrelated to anyone else’s center and, consequently, all the inhabitants try to center all of reality around themselves even if this means that others starve and die.

         Lord Jesus, grant us the grace to see our neighbor’s center as our own. With this understanding, help us share our excess with our brothers and sisters so that all have what we need in a city of Love of God and Love of Neighbor. 

         May God Bless You All – Father Peter

---

^[1] Brant Pitre, “The Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A),” catholicproductions.com; John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew 49.3; trans. D. H. Williams and NPNF2.

^[2] Robert Barron, “Untold Blessing, Three Paths to Holiness – Knowing You are a sinner – Part 1,” saltandlighttv.org, https://saltandlighttv.org/schedule/.