By Fr. Glenn Jones:

A lot of talk lately about socialism rising in this nation’s politics, even though it has never proven to be a viable system; in fact, it has led to some of the most tragic systems and mass deaths in world history, not to mention the suppression of religion. Alas, people continue to be baited by the promise of “sticking it to the rich” and a redistribution of wealth … which never really materializes except for those in authority and their cronies.

In the Gospel of the Mass this weekend (August 2), we Catholics heard of Jesus’ great miracle of the multiplication and subsequent distribution of the loaves and fishes (Matthew 14:13ff) for the crowd of 5000 men, and probably many more since we read “not counting women and children.” This story is one so well known at the time that all four evangelists include it in their Gospels, so that it would have been deep in the collective memory of the people. After all, with an estimated Israel population of around 600,000 people, 5000 was a significant percentage.

Was Jesus practicing socialism? No; as He constantly exhorts, His giving was charity and love, for “His heart was moved with pity for them.” Socialism is forced confiscation; charity is free gift.

Of course, His action was much more than just charity alone. Just to reiterate as we have before, this was not just Jesus simply convincing people to share what they already had in a type of desert potluck as has become common to assert even in many Christian circles. If the people already had food, the apostles wouldn’t have been concerned about them going hungry and having to go to the villages to buy food; there would have been no need. In the Gospels of Mark and John recounting this event, the apostles complain that it would take more than 8 months wages even to give each person a mouthful.

Rather, the Gospel records that Jesus told the disciples to give the people food, and they distributed the food that He had blessed…the food that through His blessing had multiplied. The shared “fish sandwich” story simply attempts to bring Jesus down to mere human level…to “un-divinize” him…deeming Him just a “good man” teaching nice things rather than the actual Word of God. For if He is simply a good man teaching a pleasant philosophy, that eliminates obligation for us to hear and obey Him, something incumbent upon us if He is God. If He’s just a nice guy, we can follow His teachings or not, with no spiritual consequences.

But that is not the case.

As C.S. Lewis wrote, one thing is unmistakable by the words of Jesus: either he was a charlatan, or a lunatic … or truly divine. What normal, honest person would say: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” Or: “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst?” Or especially: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life?” All of these, and many similar, Jesus asserted.

Yet the Christian Church is built upon the testimony of witnesses who DID see Him heal the sick…DID see Him raise the dead…DID see Him Himself risen from the dead and ascend into Heaven. Why else would so many have gone to their deaths witnessing about Him and continuing His teaching if He were a charlatan or lunatic?

Now, this multiplication of loaves and fish is one of the greatest—and most symbolic—miracles that Jesus performs. People had been coming to him to be healed in body. John the Baptist had just been martyred, so now was the time for Jesus to show them what He truly offered: spiritual healing and eternal life. He would feed their bodies today, preparing for the time in which He would feed their souls tomorrow…after His death, resurrection and ascension. 

He would feed their souls—and our souls—with grace not only in personal prayer, but in what Catholics hold as the seven sacraments—most especially with the Eucharist which this event foreshadows. But even the Eucharist is simply “food for our journey” to strengthen us in life’s struggle toward the holiness to which God leads us…to feed our souls with grace, to strengthen us against temptation, and to lead us to that Promised Land as foreseen by Isaiah (ch. 55):

All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
Come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!

Spiritually, you will receive that fulfillment for which your soul longs so desperately—to know that you are loved absolutely.

The Gospel today states: “Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds,” foreshadowing the Last Supper: “Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26-28 )

The priest says these words at each Mass, but instead of mere bread filling the physical body, we Catholics (and other denominations) believe it becomes the Eucharistic Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ himself…filling the faithful with the life-giving grace of God.

At the feeding of the 5000, Jesus did not begin with nothing, but rather He took what the faithful brought Him, and multiplied that meagre portion to great abundance. Likewise, we bring the mustard seed of our faith and fidelity, and He causes the growth into the great tree, watered by His grace.

Twelve baskets were left over — one for each apostle, the first bishops—each given the mission to go out and feed the crowd…just as they would later be ordained to go out and feed the world.

The gift of God is free and eternal life is offered by a loving Creator, but we must truly love Him in return.  And how do we do that? John tells us in his letter: “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments”… by following the Word, Jesus Christ—to love God above all, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Not out of coercion and confiscation, but in the free giving of ourselves.