Luke 9:16

(Hom. 49. in Matt.) And to make men believe that He came from the Father, Christ when He was about to work the miracle looked up to heaven. As it follows, Then he took the five loaves, &c. (ubi sup.) He distributes to them by the hands of His disciples, so honouring them that they might not forget it when the miracle was past. Now He did not create food for the multitude out of what did not exist, that He might stop the mouth of the Manichæans, who say that the creatures are independent (ἀλλοτριούντων. κτίσιν.) of Him; showing that He Himself is both the Giver of food, and the same who said, Let the earth bring forth, &c.He makes also the fishes to increase, to signify that He has dominion over the seas, as well as the dry land. But well did He perform a special miracle for the weak, at the same time that He gives also a general blessing in feeding all the strong as well as the weak. And they did all eat, and were filled.

This bread which Jesus breaks is truly the mystical Word of God and a discourse about Christ which is increased while it is distributed. From a few discourses, he ministered abundant nourishment to all peoples. He gave discourses to us like loaves that are doubled when they are poured forth from our mouths. That bread in an incomprehensible fashion is visibly increased when it is broken, when it is distributed, when it is eaten without any understanding of how it is provided.… Truly, Christ's gifts seem small but are very great. They are not bestowed on one person but on peoples, for the food grew in the mouth of those who ate it. This food seemed to be for bodily nourishment but was taken for eternal salvation.

Second, with regard to the multitude of provisions, it is said: But having taken the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them: in which blessing there was a multiplication of the loaves, according to that passage in Genesis …

After taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to set before the crowd. The Savior, seeing the hungry crowds, does not create new food, but blesses what the disciples …

Now our Saviour does not create new food for the hungry multitudes, but He took those things which the disciples had and blessed them, since coming in the flesh He preaches nothing else than what had been foretold, but demonstrates the words of prophecy to be pregnant with the mysteries of grace; He looks towards heaven, that thither He may teach us to direct the eye of the mind, there to seek the light of knowledge; He breaks and distributes to the disciples to be placed before the multitude, because He revealed to them the Sacraments of the Law and the Prophets that they might preach them to the world.

And that we might learn the value of hospitality, and how much our own store is increased when we help those that need.

Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes,.... Into his hands, being brought him by the disciples from the lad that had them: and looking up to heaven: to his Father there, from whom all the mercies and blessings of life come; he blessed them; either asked, or commanded a blessing on them, that they might multiply and increase, that there might be a sufficiency for all the people, and that, they might be nourishing to them.

Then he took the five loaves - A minister of the Gospel, who is employed to feed souls, should imitate this conduct of Christ: 1. He ought to exhort the people to hear with sedate and humble reverence. 2. He should first take the bread of life himself, that he may be strengthened to feed others. 3. He ought frequently to lift his soul to God, in order to draw down the Divine blessing on himself and his hearers.

The miracle described in these verses is more frequently related in the Gospels than any that our Lord wrought. There is no doubt a meaning in this repetition . It is intended to draw our special attention to the things which it contains. We see, for one thing, in these verses — a striking example of our Lord Jesus Christ's divine power . He feeds an assembly of five thousand men, with five loaves and two fish.

The miracle described in these verses is more frequently related in the Gospels than any that our Lord wrought. There is no doubt a meaning in this repetition . It is intended to draw our special attention to the things which it contains. We see, for one thing, in these verses — a striking example of our Lord Jesus Christ's divine power . He feeds an assembly of five thousand men, with five loaves and two fish. He makes a scanty supply of food, which was barely sufficient for the daily needs of Himself and His disciples — to satisfy the hunger of a company as large as a Roman legion. There could be no mistake about the reality and greatness of this miracle. It was done publicly, and before many witnesses. The same power which at the beginning made the world out of nothing — caused food to exist, which before had not existed. The circumstances of the whole event made deception impossible. Five thousand hungry men would not have agreed that they were "all filled" — if they had not received real food. "Twelve baskets full of fragments" would never have been taken up — if real material loaves and fish had not been miraculously multiplied. Nothing, in short, can explain the whole transaction — but the finger of God. The same hand which sent manna from Heaven in the wilderness to feed the nation of Israel, was the hand which multiplied five loaves and two fish — to supply the needs of five thousand men. The miracle before us is one among many proofs that with Christ, nothing is impossible. The Savior of sinners is Almighty. He "calls those things which are not — as though they were." (Romans 4:17.) When He wills a thing — it shall be done. When He commands a thing — it shall come to pass. He can create . . . light out of darkness, order out of disorder, strength out of weakness, joy out of sorrow, and food out of nothing at all.