2 Kings reads: “A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing the man of God twenty barley loaves made from the first fruits, and fresh grain in the ear. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.” But his servant objected, “How can I set this before a hundred?” Elisha again said, “Give it to the people to eat, for thus says the LORD: You will eat and have some left over.” He set it before them, and when they had eaten, they had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.”
Mark and his audience clearly were familiar with these stories of the ancient prophets. Mark’s use of 2 Kings testifies to that fact. Regardless of how the five loaves and two fish were multiplied to feed 5,000, the point is Jesus looked up to heaven, blessed the food, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples. Then they were all satisfied.
When in single or double-file we proceed to the altar to receive the host – just a 1-inch diameter piece of wafer having been transformed through the priest’s Eucharistic prayer, are we satisfied, at least temporarily? Can that satisfaction be a realization that we are loved as described in today’s first reading about love (1 John 4:7-10): “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.”
When we receive, perhaps it’s best we keep this line in mind: “…God is love…” Taking and consuming the host is our way of returning that which has been given to us by God in great abundance – Love!
Deacon David Pierce
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