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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
When both the disciples had owned themselves at a loss, then He wrought the miracle; for thus they profited the more, having first confessed the difficulty of the matter, that when it should come to pass, they might understand the power of God. And because a miracle was about to be wrought, which had also been performed by the Prophets, although not in an equal degree, and because He would do it after first giving thanks, lest they should fall into any suspicion of weakness on His part, observe how by the very manner of His working …
Cyril of Alexandria
The Saviour practised His accustomed gentleness, and takes away the sharpness of His reproaches. For He doth not rebuke bitterly His disciples, albeit they were deeply slumbering in respect of their faintheartedness and littleness of faith in Him: but rather He leads them by His Deeds to the apprehension of the things which as yet they believe not. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
He commands them to recline at once, as though the table were already prepared. The disciples did not believe before, yet now they readily arrange the people to recline. There was "grass," indicating it was springtime. "For it was," he says, "Passover"; and it was celebrated in the first month of spring. The Evangelist counts only the men. He follows in this the lawful custom. For Moses also numbered the people from twenty years old and upward, but did not mention a single woman (Num. 26). …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
Our Lord's question proved the ignorance of His disciples, i. e. the people's ignorance of the Law. They lay on the grass, i. e. were carnally minded, rested in carnal things, for all flesh is grass. (Isa. 40:6) Men are filled with the loaves, when what they hear with the ear, they fulfil in practice.
Hilary of Poitiers
And so, taking the loaves and fishes, the Lord looked up to heaven, then blessed and broke them, giving thanks to the Father that, after the law and the prophets, he has himself become the evangelical bread. And when he had commanded the people to sit down on the grass, not to lie prone on the earth, but to sit upheld by the law, each one spread his own good works, like the grass of the earth, under him. The bread is also given to the apostles, because it is through them the gifts of the divine grace are to be given. …
Thomas Aquinas
Next (v 10), the miracle is presented. First, we see the people arranged; secondly, the miracle itself; and thirdly, the gathering of the leftovers. He does two things about the first. First, he shows Christ directing the disciples to have the people recline; secondly, why this was appropriate; and thirdly, he tells us the number of people present. Our Lord told his disciples to arrange the people so that they could eat; thus Jesus says, Make the people recline, i.e, to eat. …
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