Fr. Mike’s Daily Homily for Saturday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II
Theme: Miracle of multiplication of the bread
By: Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Diocese of Novaliches
Homily for Saturday February 12 2022
Mk 8:1‐10
In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied. He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets. There were about four thousand people.
The Gospel of Mark gives two accounts of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. The first one is in a predominantly Jewish territory and there are 5,000 people involved. Today’s Gospel is the second account where 4,000 people are present and this happens in a mainly Gentile area. The grace of God through Jesus is for everyone, and does not discriminate.
Once again, it is sincere compassion for the crowd that moved the Lord to do this miracle: “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.” And He knows well the real situation: “If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way.”
In addition to the compassion of Jesus, this miracle demonstrates the absolute power of Jesus. The disciples are in a dilemma: “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” At this time, it is clear that, despite the miracles of Jesus done in their presence, they still do not comprehend His true identity, that He is the Incarnate God, and therefore, He is almighty. Nothing is impossible for Him.
This is something we have to think about. Many of us look at God only from a human point of view. We sometimes fall into the error of applying human standards in relation to God. This is the case with the disciples in the Gospel today. They ask, ʺHow can one feed these four thousand people with only seven loaves?ʺ It is simply impossible. But not for Jesus. He can multiply one piece of bread by ten or by ten thousand or by ten million. His power has no limits, for He is God.
This is similar with some people who think that if one offers Mass for two souls, each one gets ʹhalf of a Massʹ. This is a big misunderstanding. The truth is, if one offers Mass for ten souls or a million souls, they all get ʹa Massʹ. No one can limit the power of God.
This is also true with the Sacred Host in the Mass. There are some people who think that when one receives only half of the host, they do not receive the full Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church clarifies this matter: “Christ is present whole and entire in each of the species and whole and entire in each of their parts, in such a way that the breaking of the bread does not divide Christ.” (CCC 1377).
It is clear, therefore, that Jesus is wholly present even in the smallest fragment of the consecrated Host. That is why in the celebration of the Mass “the Communion-plate for the Communion of the faithful should be retained, so as to avoid the danger of the sacred host or some fragment of it falling” (Redemptions Sacramentum , 93; GIRM , 118).
This is an important point to consider, especially in the light of the prevailing practice of communion in the hand. There are people who think that a tiny particle of the Host does not matter anymore. So, they just shake or brush it off from their hand. This can already be considered an act of sacrilege.
The miracle of the multiplication of the bread has clearly profound Eucharistic overtones. And it underscores the truth that Jesus is God, and His power is not and cannot be limited. If He can multiply bread ad infinitum, He can also be wholly present even in the tiniest particle of the sacred Host in the Holy Eucharist.
Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Diocese of Novaliches