by Msgr. Joseph P. Calise

At the end of today’s Gospel, which recounts the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, St. Matthew writes, “Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.” So obviously, the number was much greater and would have created a scene that could best be described as controlled chaos. It is also a scene in which Jesus shows great love and invites everyone to imitate his love. Jesus wants to be alone. He has just learned of the death of his cousin, John the Baptist, and wants to spend some time in mourning. The Gospel says, “He withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.” He needed, wanted some time alone, but when he arrives, he finds the crowds already waiting for him. He sacrifices his solitude to meet their needs and even objects to the disciples’ suggestion to send them away at evening time so they could go to the villages and buy food.

They were probably confused by his instruction to give them something themselves, but somehow, after his blessing, their meager five loaves and two fish were not only enough but produced 12 baskets of leftovers — perhaps suggesting each of the Twelve Apostles should be prepared to pick up a basket and follow Jesus’ example.

Each of the four Evangelists includes this event in his Gospel with only some slight differences. For example, only Luke mentions that the town Jesus withdraws to is Bethsaida, and John has Jesus, not the disciples, bring up the concern by asking Philip how they would be able to feed everyone. Yet, they all agree that the entire time on the mountain was an experience of Jesus’ love for his people. A miracle took place. The late Professor William Barclay, a renowned Scripture scholar, gives an interesting interpretation of precisely what the miracle was. An interpretation that can be better understood by an episode of “I Love Lucy.”

In the 1956 episodes of “I Love Lucy,” Ricky’s band is given the opportunity to tour Europe. In one of these episodes, “Lucy in the Swiss Alps,” the four get stranded in a cabin in the mountains. Unable to leave because of the snow, their concern increases when they realize they have no food. At least that is what they think. Lucy remembers that she did not finish her meal earlier that day and has a sandwich in her backpack. When she tries to sneak a bite, her companions naturally want some. She pleads the case that they had theirs, and she should be allowed to have hers. They stop trying to convince her, but when she starts to eat, they simply look at her with sad looks so that, ultimately, she gives in and shares her food.

Barclay suggests that something similar may have happened on that mountain. He begins with the presupposition that it would be unlikely that all those people would be traveling, and no one would have brought any food. Parents especially would be sure that there was something for their children to eat. It is possible that they were afraid to take out their food for fear that it would be taken and there would not be enough to meet their own needs. Professor Barclay offers the thought that, upon hearing Jesus’ teaching and watching him bless, break, and distribute the little he had, the miracle of the open heart took place, and those in attendance followed the example they were being given and shared their resources with one another so that everyone had enough with 12 baskets left over.

Part of my thinking clings to the traditional understanding of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. We certainly cannot doubt that Jesus could and would meet the needs of the crowd. But it is also nice to think about what a wonderful world it would be if all selfishness were gone and everyone opened their hearts to share freely with one another. That, too, would be a miracle.

Msgr. Joseph P. Calise is the pastor of Transfiguration-St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Maspeth.