Feeding the Multitude

Perhaps you know the story. As Jesus was traveling the land with his disciples, they bumped into a huge crowd of people that were following them. Since it was a remote place, and it was already getting late, disciples encouraged Jesus to send the crowds away. But Jesus had another idea. He told his disciples to get together all food they had left. So, they collected five loaves of bread and two fish.

Taking the loaves and fish, Jesus thanked God and broke the loaves. “Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children,” the accord of Matthew finishes the story.

A causal ignorant observer exclaims, “Miracle!” and attributes the fact of five loaves of bread and two fish being able to fill the bellies of thousands of people to magical multiplication of food or the food becoming infused with supernatural satiating energy channeled through Jesus into the bread and fish. Abracadabra!

I, however, see something else happening.

Seeing the example right in front of their eyes, the thousands of pilgrims took their guarded meals from their satchels — after all, you never go to pilgrimage without some water and food — and they followed suit. Hence, when the supper was over, there were even leftovers.

Truly, a miracle. Nothing supernatural, but breathtaking anyway. Even today, it would border on impossibility to bring several thousands of people who are not exactly fans, most merely curious, to share their food with complete strangers they’ve just met and knew nothing about. Just imagine wealthy businessmen and middle class craftsmen sitting together with shepherds, peasants, beggars and even some shady individuals of different tribes and ethnicities to boot. Imagine them breaking and sharing food. Crazy, isn’t it?

In any case, there you have it — gift economy in practice.

The interesting thing, however, is that it all happened while there was only a single enlightened person in that place, Jesus himself. It wasn’t required for everyone to know the absolute truth. Then again — as is obvious from the state of our world today and further accounts from New Testament depicting the ignorant shenanigans of apostles — that evening feast was a special occasion and the generosity of both, the crowds as well as Jesus’ disciples, was rather short lived.

Still, even by today’s standards, it was (as if) a miracle (happened). How more so in the first century CE, a time when sharing literally had to be taught and explained.

But again, are our times that different? I wonder …