M 5 The Feeding of the 5000

This story is a rather well known story in every christian church. We are witness of the amazing miracle of Jesus feeding 5000 men, plus their families. We are always inclined to aJribute such a marvelous occurrence to the mysteries of the divine intervention, or to the godly powers of Jesus. How easy it could be for him to simply say a word for a supernatural phenomenon to happen. Just like in a Harry Potter film, a move of a wand and a lot of food appears. It would be really amazing for such things to happen. But what if a more mundane and less spectacular explanazion is at hand? What if it could all be more humanly understood? Nothing magical or supernatural, all based on human love and solidarity. The texts says that a huge group of people was following Jesus, or saw Jesus and went aQer him. They wanted to be closer to the master, to the one who can perform miracles, and if possible learn from him. So Jesus is faced with a huge crowd and it was seemingly getting late, so the disciples are starting to get nervous; what are we going to do with so many people? How are we going to feed them? Do we even have money to buy enough food for everyone? Jesus remained calm and asked to his disciples: How much food do you have? They only had five loaves of bread and two fishes. Certainly not enough to feed them all, but Jesus saw something that the others didn’t; and he grouped the people in fifties and hundreds, blessed the food and share it with them. 

Now is where the miracle happens, the wonder of sharing. Jesus started a chain reaction that ended up feeding everyone, and there was food left. But how is that possible? 

Usually when we go out somewhere, based on our destination we pack a certain amount of things that we think are necessary and essential. Some people never leave their houses without a bottle of water, some must always have candies or something sweet at hand, others pack something to read, it differs from people to people. But we are usually prepared for whatever activities we shall undertake. It wasn’t very different back then, people took what they needed with them. Jesus knew that and also knew that people weregoingto share if they were encouraged to do so. Through Jesus gestures they all realized that it was necessary to share, because; although most would have brought something, others in their rush or simply because they didn’t have anything were leQ with nothing. This way all got something to eat, and there was a surplus. 

It was not an act of magic or the showings of a godly creature exposing it’s power, it were the actions of caring and loving human beings that, moved by Jesus, shared what they have and helped all. Today in a world full of suffering and needs, we have to look at this story as mo>va>on for our actions. Jesus already showed us love and mercy. We have to be loving, caring and attentive, specially to those who are hungry. We need to become the starting point of a chain reaction of solidarity and support, just like Jesus did; and understand that a lot of things can and will change through love, determination and commitment. Let’s us seek in Jesus the strength and example we need for all of this to happen, and for miracles like the feeding of the 5000, to happen more often in our needed world.

Guillermo Perrin, Argentinien ist aktuell PhD Student in Leipzig