ACC ~ Matthew 14 v19

EVANGELICAL FOOD

HILARY OF POITIERS: Having taken the bread and the fish, the Lord looked up to heaven, then blessed and broke them. He gave thanks to the Father that, after the time of the law and the prophets, he himself was soon to be changed into evangelical food. After this the people were ordered to sit on the grass but not to lie down. Supported by the law, each one was covered as it were with the fruit of his works as with the grass on the ground. ON MATTHEW 4.11. [1]

[1] SC 258:22.

HE LOOKED TO HEAVEN

JEROME: They are ordered to sit down on the grass and, according to another Evangelist, to recline in groups of hundreds and of fifties. In this way from the repentance of the fifty, [1] they ascended toward the perfect summit of one hundred. [2]

He looked up to heaven that he might teach them to keep their eyes focused there. He then took in hand five loaves of bread and two fish; he broke the loaves and gave the food to the disciples. By the breaking of the bread, he makes it into a seedbed of food—for if the bread had been left intact and not pulled apart and broken into pieces, they would have been unable to feed the great crowds of men, women and children. The law with the prophets are therefore pulled apart and broken into pieces. Mysteries are made manifest, so that what did not feed the multitude of people in its original whole and unbroken state now feeds them in its divided state. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.14.19. [3]

[1] A number symbolizing repentance, in reference to the Hebrew jubilee year, which recurred every fifty years and during which all debts were remitted.

[2] A number signifying perfection.

[3] CCL 77:122.

HE BROKE AND GAVE THE LOAVES

CHRYSOSTOM: In this miracle Jesus was teaching them humility, temperance, charity, to be of like mind toward one another and to share all things in common. He did so in his choice of location, by providing nothing more than loaves and fishes, by setting the same food before all and having them share it in common and by affording no one more than another. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 49.3. [1]

[1] PG 58:499; NPNF 1 10:306.

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