TEACHING WHILE FEEDING

TEACHING WHILE FEEDING
Homily for Tues after Epiphany, 07 Jan 2025, Mk 6:34-44

Because we are familiar with a two-part Liturgy at Mass that distinguishes between the first part, which we call the Liturgy of the Word and the second part, which we call the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we tend to project it on this narrative about the multiplication of the loaves. We are conditioned to read it also as a two-part narrative: a first part about Jesus teaching the multitude, and a second part about Jesus feeding them. Actually, although the story does indeed begin with Jesus deciding to forego his earlier decision to come away with his disciples and rest a while. It is already compassion that had motivated him to teach them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then when it gets late, out of compassion, he decides to feed them too. But please take note, even the feeding part is still part of the teaching.
Mark is not even telling us in the story what Jesus was teaching the crowds before he decided to feed them too. He simply says, “He taught them many things.” I have a feeling that his teaching had to do with how the kingdom of God is made manifest by our capacity to multiply resources however little they might seem. Now he had to illustrate his teaching in the most practical way possible. But first, he teaches them how not to do it—namely, not by counting the cost immediately and doing the mathematics like the disciples are when they react to Jesus’ suggestion to give the crowd something to eat. I imagine Judas Iscariot saying, “Do we also feed them for free after teaching them for free? By golly, we’ll go bankrupt! ”
Here’s how Jesus teaches them the art of multiplication of resources: firstly,by focusing on what they had, then on what they did not have. (Surely they were not the only ones who were bringing with them some provisions, however little it might be. ) Secondly, instead of making the crowds line up to get something, he makes them sit down in smaller