Pray Lectio Divina with the story of the feeding of the five thousand from the Gospel of Matthew!
LECTIO
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
Matthew 14:14-21
14 And he coming forth saw a great multitude, and had compassion on them, and healed their sick. 15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying: This is a desert place, and the hour is now past: send away the multitudes, that going into the towns, they may buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give you them to eat. 17 They answered him: We have not here, but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said to them: Bring them hither to me. 19 And when he had commanded the multitudes to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up what remained, twelve full baskets of fragments. 21 And the number of them that did eat, was five thousand men, besides women and children.
Commentary from St. John Chrysostom
In this passage of Matthew, we see a profound moment in the ministry of Christ—the feeding of the five thousand. It is not merely a miracle of provision, but a theological and spiritual lesson about faith, detachment, divine generosity, and the education of both body and soul.
In his homily, Chrysostom draws attention first to the faith of the crowd. These people followed Christ into a desolate place, leaving behind comfort, security, and food. Chrysostom notes that “they endured hunger in waiting for the Lord even till evening,” a testimony to their spiritual hunger outweighing their bodily needs (Homily 49.1). Their reverence for Christ was so great, he observes, that they would not even approach Him to ask for food. Their awe and love for Him quieted their physical desires. In a world obsessed with immediacy and consumption, this image stands as a stark reminder of what it means to prioritize the spiritual over the material.
Equally instructive is the disposition of the disciples. Chrysostom highlights that they, too, had embraced a life of simplicity; twelve men possessing only five loaves and two fish. He sees in this a reflection of their “philosophy,” or love of the higher life, being “possessed by spiritual things” (Homily 49.3). And yet, they still speak to Christ as if He were limited by material constraints. This reveals how Christ uses moments like these to gradually lead His followers from human reasoning into divine trust: “Bring them hither to Me,” He says, teaching them that all things become possible only in Him.
Finally, Chrysostom reflects on the deeper meaning of the miracle itself. The Lord did not provide luxurious food, but the simplest of fare, bread and fish, distributed equally among all. In doing so, Christ teaches moderation, frugality, and charity. Even the act of making the people sit on the grass suggests a lesson in humility and shared life. The miracle nourished their bodies, but Christ’s manner nourished their minds, forming a people capable of living together in communion and love (Homily 49.4).
This passage invites us to reflect: Do we bring our little to Christ with trust? Are we detached enough to notice what He is trying to teach us in want? Are we forming our minds along with feeding our bodies?
MEDITATIO
Christ beheld the multitude with a gaze that pierced through dust and weariness, through the hunger in their stomachs and the longing in their hearts. They had come not for bread, but for Him. And in their silence, their waiting, their thirst for truth, He was moved with compassion.
The day waned. The desert wind began to shift, shadows lengthened, and the golden light of the sun warmed His sacred face. Around Him, only sand and scattered grass—no market, no shelter. Yet the people did not murmur. They had chosen to follow the Bridegroom into the wilderness, content simply to hear Him. “Send them away,” the disciples whispered, looking upon the crowd with concern. But Christ would not send away those who came in faith. He waited—not because He lacked power, but because He always waits to be invited. Chrysostom says: He did not act first, but only when asked. “What do you have?” Christ asked. “Five loaves, two fish.” The disciples, who lived with little, offered what little they had. Their detachment from the world allowed room for trust, though they still spoke to Him as to a man.
But Christ, ever gentle, responded: “Bring them to Me.” And so they did.
He lifted His eyes to heaven, blessed, broke, and gave. Bread and fish—humble fare, divided without favoritism. He taught not only provision, but restraint and love. Seated side by side, all received. The miracle was not just in multiplication, but in Communion.
And now, He turns to you. “What do you have?” He asks. It may seem small. It may feel insufficient. But bring it. Offer it. Let Him bless it. He will not send you away. He will feed you. And through you, feed many.
ORATIO
1. Lord, I often eat without thinking—my mind fixed on the food, not on You. Help me slow down, to see each meal as a moment of grace and gratitude.
2. Jesus, You fed bodies and hearts. Teach me to make mealtime a space for deeper sharing. Help me speak words that nourish, not just fill silence.
3. Place on my heart one question to ask at the table with my family or friends, something that lifts the soul for conversation and reflection on Your teachings. Let it open the door to love, to listening, to You. Amen.
CONTEMPLATIO
Sit in the presence of God and contemplate His Word.
ooo
This article is taken from a chapter in Lectio Divina with the Spiritual Masters: The Gospel of Matthew with St. John Chrysostom which is available from TAN Books.
