THE CROWD PRAISED THE GOD OF ISRAEL
By Fr. Felix (African Times Guest Writer)
Following Mark, Matthew gives two stories of
the wonderful feeding of a huge crowd, one of
five thousand people, and this one of four
thousand.
It has often been disputed whether these are
alternative accounts of the same incident, for it
is difficult to distinguish four from five
thousand people (especially when the ‘women
and children’ at the end are added to the
number), and in any case such a variation is
typical of orally transmitted stories. The
numbers make little difference to the point of
the story.
The feeding of the five thousand makes it clear
that we are seeing Jesus as the messianic
shepherd, feeding his sheep, since it is stated
that he had pity on them, for they were like
sheep without a shepherd.
Almost the same point is made by the Church
in putting before us also the passage of Isaiah,
in the first reading: the Lord Sabaoth is
preparing a banquet of rich food on his holy
mountain. The Messiah is the messenger and
representative of the Lord, and Jesus provides
food in messianic plenty.
In both versions Jesus is bringing to fulfilment
the Kingship of the Lord, wiping away all tears,
discomfort, sorrow and sadness. This is the
meaning of all Jesus’ works of power, symbols
of the coming of the Kingship.
It is sometimes said that the feeding of the five
thousand, with twelve baskets of scraps, is
meant for the People of Israel with twelve tribes,
and the feeding of the four thousand, with
seven baskets of scraps is for the gentiles, with
whom the number seven is often associated.
The twelve baskets may also increase the
symbolism of Jesus eating with his new
messianic community of twelve tribes and
twelve apostles.
The formula ‘after giving thanks he broke them
and began handing them to his disciples’
strengthens this further, suggesting that it is a
foretaste of the Eucharistic meal of Jesus with
his messianic community at the Last Supper.
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