During this first week of Advent, as we prepare for the great coming of our Savior, the Gospel helps us see what this Savior will give us. Jesus draws great crowds with his preaching of the Kingdom. He heals the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, “and many others.” He amazes the crowd, who in turn glorify the God of Israel.
The compassionate Heart of Jesus is moved with pity for the hungry crowd, who have almost run out of food, but not out of enthusiasm for hearing the Truth! The disciples note that, there in the middle of nowhere, there are no resources to feed all these people. So Jesus asks them to bring to him the meager supplies they have – seven loaves and a few fish. And then he does what is so familiar to us: Jesus gives thanks, breaks the bread, and gives it to the disciples, who in turn give it to the crowds. “They all ate and were satisfied,” and there were seven baskets of leftovers. An impossible abundance.
Does this story sound familiar? This is indeed the second time Jesus multiplies bread for a crowd. The first time (in Mt 5), there are 12 baskets left over; scholars point out that this is meant to signify enough for the 12 tribes of Israel. In today’s Gospel, Jesus is probably preaching to the Gentiles, and there are seven baskets leftover; seven is the number of completion and ending, the number of times the Gentile army commander Naaman had to wash in the Jordan to be cured of his leprosy. The Gentiles are included in Jesus’ abundant self-gift as well.
This prefiguring of the Eucharist – the sacrament that unites the entire human family around the one altar – is also prefiguring the inclusion of non-Jews in the New Covenant. In Christ, we are all one Body, and there is neither Gentile nor Jew, woman or man, free or slave.
At every Mass, Jesus again gives thanks, breaks the Bread, and gives it to us through the priest. If we are eager for Truth, we will receive healing and grace. If in that Communion we give Him all we have – as meager as it is – we will see that Jesus can multiply it and do amazing things with the little resources we have to offer. If we receive the Bread of Life with joy and gratitude, we too will eat and be satisfied, with overflowing.
This Advent, let’s consider that the little Infant born of Mary in Bethlehem and laid in an animals’ feeding trough is truly Food for all, giving himself wholly to feed immense crowds every day in every place, bringing the whole human family together in His Heart.
En esta primera semana de Adviento, mientras nos preparamos para la gran venida de nuestro Salvador, el Evangelio nos ayuda a ver lo que este Salvador nos dará. Jesús atrae grandes multitudes con su predicación del Reino. Cura a los cojos, a los ciegos, a los deformes, a los mudos, “y a muchos otros”. Maravilla a la multitud, que a su vez glorifica al Dios de Israel.
El Corazón compasivo de Jesús se conmueve de compasión por la multitud hambrienta, que casi se ha quedado sin comida, ¡pero no sin entusiasmo por escuchar la Verdad! Los discípulos notan que, en este lugar aislado, no hay recursos para alimentar a toda la gente. Entonces Jesús les pide que le traigan los escasos víveres que tienen: siete panes y algunos peces. Y luego hace lo que nos resulta tan familiar: Jesús da gracias, parte el pan y se lo da a los discípulos, quienes a su vez lo dan a la multitud. “Todos comieron y se saciaron”, y sobraron siete canastas. Una abundancia imposible.
¿Te suena familiar esta historia? Esta es, en efecto, la segunda vez que Jesús multiplica el pan para una multitud. La primera vez (en Mt 5), sobran 12 canastas; los expertos señalan que esto significa que hay suficiente para las 12 tribus de Israel. En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús probablemente está predicando a los gentiles, y sobran siete canastas; siete es el número de la terminación y el fin, el número de veces que el comandante del ejército gentil Naamán tuvo que lavarse en el Jordán para curarse de la lepra. Los gentiles también están incluidos en la abundante donación de sí mismo de Jesús.
Esta prefiguración de la Eucaristía – el sacramento que une a toda la familia humana alrededor del único altar– también prefigura la inclusión de los no judíos en la Nueva Alianza. En Cristo, todos somos un solo Cuerpo, y no hay gentil ni judío, mujer u hombre, persona libre o esclavo.
En cada Misa, Jesús nuevamente da gracias, parte el Pan y nos lo da a través del sacerdote. Si estamos ávidos de Verdad, recibiremos sanación y gracia. Si en esa Comunión le damos todo lo que tenemos – por escaso que sea – veremos que Jesús puede multiplicarlo y hacer cosas maravillosas con los pocos recursos que tenemos para ofrecer. Si recibimos el Pan de Vida con alegría y gratitud, también nosotros comeremos y nos saciaremos, hasta rebosar.
En este Adviento, pensemos en el hecho de que el pequeño Niño nacido de María en Belén y acostado en un pesebre de animales es verdaderamente Alimento para todos, entregándose totalmente para alimentar a inmensas multitudes todos los días en todos los lugares, reuniendo a toda la familia humana en Su Corazón.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com
Feature Image Credit: RobertCheaib, pixabay.com/photos/eucharist-body-of-christ-church-1591663/
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