This year, the Gospel for the Tenth after Pentecost is the story of Feeding the Crowds in Matthew 14:13-21. This is a familiar account of Jesus feeding the 5000. The Gospels tell about Jesus feeding the hungry multitudes on more than one occasion. These miracles have several levels of meaning and application. Like all miracles, multiplying the bread and the fish is an assertion of Christ's divine Lordship over nature. It is also a manifestation of His compassion for human beings in need, especially those whose needs arise because they have come to hear Him. He cares for the immediate physical needs of the people around Him, and He is teaching His disciples to respond to such circumstances in mercy and in faith.
In addition, this feeding of the hungry also points toward higher needs. In addition to physical hunger, human beings also have a spiritual hunger. They may not always acknowledge this hunger, but their spiritual longing is the reason they are drawn to Jesus. And just as Christ can satisfy their momentary physical hunger, He can also satisfy their eternal spiritual hunger through His living Presence in Word and Sacrament. Divine Providence supplies our physical needs, but even more importantly, God in Christ provides sustenance for our souls.
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