“Then taking the five loaves and the two fish,
and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing over them, broke them,
and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And when the leftover fragments were picked up,
they filled twelve wicker baskets.”
Today’s Gospel is about the Eucharist. The fourfold action of Jesus is repeated again at the last supper and again on the road to Emmaus. It happens at every mass we celebrate and is the pattern for our lives.
Take. Jesus takes the loaves and fish. It is not a selfish grab, but a reception of what is freely given. The dynamic is that both the loaves and fishes are given to Jesus and they are chosen by him. His own life is one in which he freely gives himself and is chosen by the Father as the Anointed One, the messiah. God speaks over him at his baptism, “This is my beloved son.” Chosen. In the garden, Jesus prays, “Not my will, but yours be done.” Given. God has chosen you and me for his own and we are invited to give ourselves to him. The gifts we bring forward at mass, fruit of the earth and vine and work of human hands, represent us. As creatures and creators, all we are and can do, we give to God. God takes us, receives us, and chooses us.
Bless. When we bless something, it is special, set apart for some purpose. Whether the blessing of a house, a pet on St. Francis’s feast day, a child, an altar, graduates or, like we did last week, our fathers, we are asking God to fulfill his purpose for those articles or people. Somehow, they are to reveal God’s glory in this world. They are special and set apart for God. Jesus was the definition of blessed. Jesus came into the world to reveal the fullness of the Father’s love. He is “the image of the invisible God.” All he did, especially on the cross, was for us. It was his purpose and his mission. The Holy Spirit was given to us in baptism and sealed us in confirmation for God’s purpose. We pray that this same Holy Spirit comes down upon gifts of bread and wine to transform them into Christ’s body and blood. This too represents us. We are transformed into the body of Christ on earth. Set apart for his purpose, his glory, and his love. We are blessed.
Break. Jesus broke the loaves and fishes into pieces. They couldn’t fulfill their purpose until they had been broken by the hand of the savior. This is the move from a closed fist to an open hand. Jesus, “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.” He emptied himself, humbled himself, and was obedient, even to death on a cross. He chose brokenness to set us free. Broken of pride, independence, stinginess, and selfishness, we become earthen vessels, clay pots, filled with the treasure of God’s love and grace. Only broken can we be available to love others. Only broken, like the body of Christ at mass, are we ready to be given. Only broken do we rely fully upon God in our weakness. Only by being broken can we be made whole.
Give. Once taken, blessed, and broken, Jesus gives the loaves and fishes in super abundance. The leftovers fill twelve wicker baskets. Jesus freely gives, generous beyond measure. His life was not taken from him, but given freely for us all. At the last supper, he knelt down and washed his disciples feet saying, “As I have done for you, you should also do.” What we receive at mass, we are to freely give. God gives us to those in need. God’s generosity flows through us. We can be tempted to see hardship and ask why God doesn’t do something. We may not realize that he already has. He gave you and me. “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Chosen and received, special and set apart, broken and open handed, we are the love of God for others. Every week we celebrate this mystery: you and I are taken, blessed, broken and given. Now, go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.