Multiplication of Bread

Tuesday, ‍
January 7, 2020
First Reading: 1 Jn 4:7-10
Gospel Reading: Mk 6:34-44
AS Jesus went ashore he saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began a long teaching session with them.
It was now getting late, so his disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place and it is now late. You should send the people away and let them go to the farms and villages around here to buy themselves something to eat.”
Jesus replied, “You yourselves give them something to eat.” They answered, “If we are to give them food, we must go and buy two hundred silver coins’ worth of bread.” But Jesus said, “You have some loaves: how many? Go and see.” The disciples found out and said, “There are five loaves and two fish.”
Then he told them to have the people sit down together in groups on the green grass. This they did in groups of hundreds and fifties. And Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish and, raising his eyes to heaven, he pronounced a blessing, broke the loaves and handed them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them.
They all ate and everyone had enough. The disciples gathered up what was left and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces of bread and fish. Five thousand men had eaten there.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
At the Multiplication of Bread Jesus took the loaves and the fish, pronounced the blessing, broke the bread and handed them to his disciples to distribute to the people. Something similar happens at Mass. Jesus, through the priest, breaks bread, pronounce the Eucharistic prayers, and distribute them at Holy Communion. Something more happens at Mass. During Holy Communion Jesus does not feed his people with ordinary loaves and fish but with his Body and Blood. At Mass, so much love is invested.
Self-giving is not exclusive to human beings. Animals too are capable of self-oblation. The mother pelican comes close to what Jesus does at the Eucharist because she pierces her own side with her beak. Then she allows her blood to drip on her young who would then start feasting on her flesh until she dies. But no matter how animals and humans come close to what Jesus did, they will never equal the love Jesus invested.
The Mass is a memorial of that love. This explains why we Catholics love to celebrate Mass. It is not only an act of obedience to Jesus who at the last supper said, “Do this in memory of me” but also our way of thanking the Lord for making that supreme self sacrifice to save humanity. Above all, it is the banquet where Jesus continues to nourish us with his Body and Blood. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., J.D., D.M.