THE CROWD PRAISED THE GOD OF ISRAEL

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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