Luke 9: 11 - 17

On Sunday the Church celebrated the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ - the central celebration of Christianity through the Eucharist. All three readings this weekend relate to this Eucharistic theme. In the second reading, we have the first written account of the Last Supper and what came to be seen as Jesus instigating the Eucharist. 

Rather than a gospel account of the Last Supper to celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, we are presented with what is widely regarded as another ‘eucharistic’ story from the gospel of Luke. The feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fish is regarded as a eucharistic story because it was a clear example of God’s presence in a miraculous meal. 

In the gospel, the disciples encourage Jesus to send the crowds away to find food for themselves. Jesus tells the disciples, “Give them something to eat yourselves.” This is a challenge and a test of the disciples – a chance for them to be like Jesus. He calls them to act with compassion and do what he would do to feed the people. But the disciples fail to grasp either his meaning or the opportunity and the miracle is left to Jesus. Jesus believed that they could feed the people if they tried but the disciples didn’t have that same faith in themselves. No one needs to be left out!