ACC ~ Mark 8 v1 - 10

OVERVIEW:

The incarnate Lord who himself was hungry in the desert is now seen feeding humanity with the bread of life (AUGUSTINE). The great variety of gifts of the Spirit to the church is indicated anticipatively in this miracle of the feeding of the four thousand. Those who partake and eat more zestily of the written Word have less spiritual hunger remaining (JEROME). The whole church, and not four thousand only, is now being fed by the one who breaks bread (AUGUSTINE, EPHREM THE SYRIAN).

8:6 | He Took the Seven Loaves, and Having Given Thanks He Broke Them

BREAKING THE BREAD

AUGUSTINE: In expounding holy Scriptures, I am, so to speak, now breaking bread for you. If you hunger to receive it, your heart will sing out with the fullness of praise. [1] And if you are thus made rich in your banquet, why would you then be niggardly in good works and deeds of mercy? What I am distributing to you is not my own. What you feast upon, I also feast upon. SERMONS ON NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS 45.1. [2]

[1] Ps 138:1.

[2] Cetedoc 0284, 95.38.581.15; NPNF 1 6:406**; cf. WSA 3 4:24, Sermon 95.1.

8:8a | Ate and Were Satisfied

NATURAL APPETITES FILLED

EPHREM THE SYRIAN:

Grant, Lord, that I and those dear to me

May together there

Find the very last remnants of your gift!

HYMNS ON PARADISE 9.27, 29.

8:8b | Seven Baskets Full

NO FRAGMENTS LOST

AUGUSTINE: Are you hungry? You too have been given these baskets. For those fragments were not lost. For you, too, belong to the whole church, and they are surely for your benefit. SERMONS ON NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS 45.2. [1]

[1] Cetedoc 0284, 95.38.581.39; NPNF 1 6:406*; cf. WSA ibid.

8:9 | About Four Thousand Were Present

WHETHER FOUR OR FIVE THOUSAND

JEROME: From the lesser number of men [four thou-sand [1] ], less remains; from the greater number [five thousand [2] ], more is left over. [3] Four thousand men—fewer certainly in number, but greater in faith. The one who is greater in faith eats more, and because he does, there is less left over! I wish that we, too, might eat more of the hardy bread of holy writ, so that there would be less left over for us to learn. TRACTATE ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK, HOMILY 78. [4]

[1] Cf. Mk 8:9.

[2] Cf. Mk 6:44.

[3] This spiritual-numerological interpretation was suggested to Jerome as he puzzled over the difference between four and five thousand reported in the varied accounts.

[4] Cetedoc 0594, 4.43; FC 57:153*. As less is left over by the greater level of consumption, so those who eat more heartily of the Word have less remaining over which yet to puzzle.

8:10 | The District of Dalmanutha

WHETHER MARK’S DALMANUTHA IS THE SAME LOCATION AS MATTHEW’S MAGEDAN

AUGUSTINE: After his account of the miracle of the seven loaves, Mark subjoins the same transition as is given us in Matthew, only with this difference: Matthew’s expression for the locality is not Dalmanutha, as is read in certain codices, but Magedan. [1] There is no reason, however, for questioning the fact that it is the same place that is intended under both names. For most codices, [2] even of Mark’s Gospel, give no other reading than that of Magedan. HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 2.51. [3]

[1] Cf. Mt 15:39.

[2] It appears that Augustine had access to several distinguishable texts of Mark.

[3] Cetedoc 0273, 2.51.106.215.5; NPNF 1 6:153*.