which they were going. When they had landed[1], the people brought the sick to Him, and He healed them, and all those who touched His garments[2] were made whole.
COMMENTARY.
Our Lord’s Omnipotence. St. Augustine writes thus about the miracle of the loaves and fishes: “Jesus multiplied the bread in His Hands by virtue of the same power wherewith God multiplies a few grains of corn into a waving cornfield. The five loaves were like unto those grains of corn which, when sown, do not lie unfruitful in the ground, but to which increase is immediately given by Him who is the creator of the world." Thus the miraculous multiplication of the loaves showed forth the creative Omnipotence of our Lord, proving Him to be the Almighty God who every year multiplies the grains of corn which are sown in the earth.
Figure of the Holy Eucharist. The great miracle of the loaves and fishes is one of the most striking figures of the Blessed Eucharist, in which the Saviour of the world nourishes the souls of countless millions of His faithful people.
The object of the miracle of the loaves. Besides the common object of all our Lord’s miracles, viz. the increase of men’s faith in Him, this miracle had one special object, viz. to foreshadow, and to prepare men’s hearts for the marvellous Food which He gives us in the most holy Sacrament of the altar — the gift which He promised on the following day. Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist feeds the souls of the faithful with the most precious bread from heaven, multiplying His own Body, and distributing It by the hands of His priests. And with this heavenly Food all are satisfied, for it appeases our spiritual hunger by uniting us to our Lord Jesus, the author of all grace.
The Goodness of Jesus. He had compassion on the people, teaching them and healing their sick. He fed the multitude which followed Him with food both for their bodies and their souls; and because they were so eager to hear His word that they forgot to supply themselves with food, He supplied them with it by a wonderful miracle. “Seek first the
- ↑ Landed. Without any effort or action on the part of the apostles, the little ship accomplished the rest of the voyage, a distance of at least a mile and a half, in one moment. The whole distance from Caphamaum to the opposite, eastern coast is about six miles. According to John 6, 19, they had rowed 25 or 30 furlongs, or about four miles and a half, before the ship came to a stand-still. Thus the ship was still a mile and a half from the western shore when Jesus entered it.
- ↑ Touched His garments. The cure of the woman with an issue of blood (chapter XXX) had convinced all beholders that the mere touch of our Lord’s garments sufficed to cure the sick.
