GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Jesus and the Crowd: Mt 14,13-21
This story of Jesus feeding a crowd is one of six accounts of the event. These feedings are commonly called the multiplication of the loaves, but there is no sign of loaves being multiplied. Instead, we are told how Jesus with a few loaves and some fish feeds an enormous crowd, five thousand men together with women and children. As usual, our point of comparison will be Mark, Mk 6,34-44.
In the next chapter we will be reading Matthew's second account of the feeding of a crowd (15, 29-39).
We have already discovered that Matthew has removed Mark's frame of the mission of the apostles around the story of the execution of John the Baptist. This as we saw has the effect of bringing the Herod's banquet and Jesus' banquet close together.
The background in the Old Testament can be seen in Exodus 16 and 2 Kings 4,42-44. Also relevant background is in 1 Kings 17,12 and the similar 2 Kings 4,1-8.
Write out the principle stages in 2 Kings 4,42-44 and compare them to this story.
We first note the setting up of the story in 14,13-14. What is Jesus trying to do? What actually happens? What comment of Mk 6,34 has Matthew omitted (and moved to 9,36)?
Who takes the initiative about the needs of the crowd? What happens next, verses 16-17, compared with Mk 6,37-34? What is the effect of Matthew's changes?
Verse 19 then invites a comparison with of this story with 26,26 and events around it. Look too at Ps 123,1. Who distributes the food (see Mk 6,41)?
For verse 20, there may be a hint of Dt 8,10. All miracles of this type (such as 2 Kings 4,44) have abundant leftovers. Consider the significance of twelve baskets.
Finally, Matthew includes the women and children: see Exodus 12,37.
Time for a response.
Two banquets: Mt 14,1-21
We have now read about two banquets, that of Herod and that of Jesus. Reflect upon the atmosphere of the two banquets and also where they take place. What conclusions can you draw?
Take another look at the response.
The Sunday Gospel
Mt 14,13-21, the feeding of the crowd, is the Gospel for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The editors have included the immediate context of this Gospel by adding a reference to the execution of John the Baptist.
The OT reading is Isaiah 55,1-3. We had another couple of verses of this chapter (Is 55,10-11) just a few weeks ago, for the 15th Sunday. I made some comments then about the way this chapter of Isaiah is used in the lectionary. Read again the whole chapter.
What is the setting of the reading? How then does it accompany the Gospel?
Let us go to a response.
We are ready therefore to continue our reading with 14,22-36, Jesus walking on the water.