Loading…
VRSZ
This sets the art on your cards and whose commentary you read on each verse. You can change it later in settings.
Translation
Loading…
What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
And that these things were done for their instruction is plain from what is said afterwards, when He reminded them, saying, "Do ye not yet understand-how many baskets ye took up?" And for the same reason it was that the baskets of fragments were equal in number to the disciples; afterwards, when they were instructed, they took not up so many, but only "seven baskets." And I marvel not only at the quantity of loaves created, but besides the quantity, at the exactness of the surplus, that He caused the superabundance to be neither more …
Cyril of Alexandria
And these things shall be said for profit from the narrative. But since we taking what has been said in a spiritual sense (for so we ought, and not otherwise) said that by the five barley loaves the book of Moses was hinted at, and by the two little fishes, the wise writings of the holy Apostles: in the gathering together of the fragments too, I suppose we ought to perceive some mystical and spiritual conception, agreeing with the order of the account. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
One must marvel not only at the fact that there was a remainder, but also at the number of the remainder. He arranged it so that the baskets of leftovers were neither more nor less, but equal to the number of the disciples, so that all would carry them, and Judas would not be left without a share, but would have in this miracle as well an indication that his Teacher is God, and from this would have derived benefit; although, because of his malice, this turned into greater condemnation for him, since he betrayed the One Who made so …
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
His disciples obeyed him faithfully; hence he says, They therefore gathered and filled twelve baskets with the leftovers. Here we should note that the amount of food that remained was not left to chance, but was according to plan: for as much as Christ willed was left over, no more and no less. This is shown by the fact that the basket of each apostle was filled. Now a basket is reserved for the work of peasants. …
Bonaventure
"They gathered therefore and filled twelve baskets": behold, a measure and a full measure. Chrysostom: "I admire not only the multiplication of the loaves, but the certainty of that which was left over, and that the baskets were equal in number to the Apostles, signifying that the teaching of the Apostles was to be distributed throughout the whole world from the remnants of the teaching of Christ." "They gathered," I say, "and filled twelve baskets of fragments from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had …
Alcuin of York
Baskets are used for servile work. The baskets here are the Apostles and their followers, who, though despised in this present life, are within filled with the riches of spiritual sacraments. The Apostles too are represented as baskets, because, that through them, the doctrine of the Trinity was to be preached in the four parts of the world.
Translation