Commentary

Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Luke 9:11b-17

"Give them some food yourselves."

This passage from chapter 9 of Luke's gospel follows the sending out of the Twelve with "power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and ... to proclaim the kingdom of God" (9:1-2).

Luke reports that "When the apostles returned, they explained to him what they had done. " (v. 10)

After such a success, the apostles think it was them who had done the work, so they "explained to [Jesus] what they had done."

How misled they are thinking that they have done it all?

And so, facing the hunger of the crowds of thousands of people, with only five loaves and two fish, the only thing they could think of is to send the people away.

The miracle teaches the Twelve a lesson on the reality of Christian mission. It is the Lord Jesus who indeed has done it all.

For us, disciples of today, this passage, appropriately selected for this celebration of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, draws us to the greatness of the Eucharist and the reality of what we, as followers of Christ, have to offer.

The five loaves and two fish that we have is all Jesus needs. And he is commissioning us to give the hungry people some food ourselves. We have little to offer the hungry crowds. But it is we who Jesus is sending. It's not what we do. It is the Lord who uses us to feed the multitude.