On two occasions it is recorded, that our benign Lord multiplied a few loaves, and with them satisfied many thousands of men.1 But combine them into one meditation, and in it consider the words and deeds of Christ Jesus said, then, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat2 and if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way, for divers of them came from far.” Whereupon He multiplied the loaves, so that all eat abundantly. Here you have many good things to meditate upon, and especially how merciful, gracious, and kind the Lord Jesus was, and with what discretion and consideration He acted.
First, how merciful He was, for it was mercifulness which drew Him to help them, and therefore He says, “I have compassion on the multitude.” For “the earth is full of His mercy.”3
Secondly, He was gracious and courteous in the cause which He assigns ; “For behold,” says He, “they have now been with Me three days.” See the courteousness and wonderful grace of His behaviour. For He speaks as though He were under an obligation to them for remaining so long with Him, whereas, in truth, it was for their own good, and not for His. Yes, so it is, as He elsewhere says, “My delights are with the sons of men,”4 though it bring no advantage to Himself, but works our salvation. But those who follow Him, and keep His precepts and counsels, the Lord loves ; nor will He close His hand against them, but will succour them according to their needs.
Thirdly, He showed discretion and circumspection, in that He considered their wants and their infirmity ; how, if He sent them away fasting, they would faint, and how certain of them had come from a long distance. You observe, then, how wise and full of sweetness those words were. But spiritually we are daily in a like condition. For we have nothing to eat unless He give it ; and we faint by the way, if He send us away fasting ; and without Him we cannot provide for ourselves in any spiritual matter. We have no ground, then, for self-complacency, when we receive any consolation from the hand of the Lord, or when we are conscious of any progress in our spiritual life ; because it is not from ourselves, but from Him. And therefore, if we are observant, we shall notice, that the more perfect the servants of God are, the nearer to Himself and the more rich in His gifts, the more humble they are, for they ascribe nothing to themselves, but their own sins and defects. For the nearer any one approaches to God, the more he is illuminated, and therefore the more clearly does he see the majesty and mercy of God ; and so in him pride or vainglory can have no place, for they proceed from blindness of ignorance. For no one who has a true knowledge of God or of himself, and examines himself, can be proud. It is a long road by which we came to God : I speak especially of myself and of others who are like me, who had gone away from Him into a far country, through our sins. Any one, then, who returns to Him may be truly said to come from afar.
After the words of Christ which we have alluded to, He proceeded to actions. Behold Him, then, how He took the loaves, and gave thanks to the Father, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude, and in their hands multiplied them, so that all eat as much as they pleased, and many fragments were left. Consider, then, how He looked on them as they eat, and delighted in their enjoyment Behold them also, how they wondered at the miracle, and how they talk together and rejoice together about it, eating with thanksgiving, so that not only their bodies, but also, at least in the case of some among them, their souls received refreshment. But was the Blessed Virgin there, and did she joyously hand the bread to the women, and delight in their satisfaction? Scripture does not say. Meditate, then, on this miracle, as the Lord enables you.
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