The feeding of the Five thousand is a prefiguration of the Holy Eucharist. The Multiplication of Bread as recorded by the four evangelists agree on the time when the miracle took place. It was getting late, and the apostles suggested to our Lord that the people be sent away. Jesus disagreed sternly. Instead, the apostles were tasked to find a way to feed them. Jesus could have miraculously feed everyone there present, by miraculously multiplying the five loaves and two fish. But before Jesus performed the multiplication, He wanted to instill in the apostles the sense of being responsible for other people.
The apostles must have been awed at the multiplication of bread that they have seen. But Jesus intended more. He did not need and want “fan clubs” to marvel at what He can do. He wanted the disciples who would follow him in the way of self-giving, their willingness and readiness to become bread, broken and shared with others. That is why Jesus reprimanded the people who kept on following Him, saying, “You are looking for Me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.”
