The multiplication of loaves and fish to feed about five thousand men, recounted in the four Gospels (today’s reading Mt 14: 13-21; Mk 6: 35-44; Lk 9: 12-17; and Jn 6: 1-55), is a key foreshadowing of the Lord’s generosity in leaving us the Eucharist, his body for food in the form of bread and his blood as drink in the form of wine.

All four Gospel accounts feature the same gestures familiar to us in the Eucharistic celebration: “He took the five loaves and the two fishes, raised his eyes to heaven, pronounced the blessing, broke the loaves, and handed them to the disciples to distribute to the people” (Mt 14: 19); “Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish and, raising his eyes to heaven, he pronounced a blessing, broke the loaves and handed them to his disciples to distribute to the people’ (Mk 6:41); “Jesus then took the five loaves and two fish, and raising his eyes to heaven, pronounced a blessing over them; he broke them and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the crowd” (Lk 9: 16); and “Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed them” (Jn 6: 11).

Just as our Lord fed the five thousand because he had compassion on them in their hunger, since they not eaten for days, our Lord gave himself to us in the Eucharist as spiritual food and drink for eternal life.

In addition, the Eucharist brings to the Church and its members “the unity and peace they signify,” unity with Christ and all others who in faith receive the Eucharist.