In the Details
There he was on a scaffold upside-down painting the heavenly picture of God the Father creating man when a prelate came in to see how his work was progressing. The Cardinal saw the pains which Michaelangelo was taking and called out "Why are you so concerned with those details because we cannot see them from down here?" The painter responded profoundly:
"It is God Who sees the details." For God the details of our life are under His providential guidance. There is not one little thing that happens that is not an act of His Love. Imagine every blade of grass, every leaf upon all the trees, every little bug are all placed there as an expression right now of His divine love for us. If He is so concerned with the details of this
natural life would He not be even more concerned the the details of our eternal life?
Hence every detail in this gospel relating to the multiplication of the loaves among the Gentiles is significant for our spiritual journey. The fact that there are 4000 men indicates the Gentiles who would be taught by the 4 Gospels and come from the four corners of the world to prostrate themselves at the feet of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This multitude represents the Church not founded on the 5 books of the old testament but on the grace that flows from every word that Jesus uttered.
You and I are formed by the Gospel message for God so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son to lay down His Life for us in ransom for the sins we have committed.
Notice that there are exactly seven loaves of bread which indicate that the gifts of the Holy Ghost guide and feed our hungry souls which have spent three days with the Lord to be healed and prepared for our baptism in the new life of Christ. Through these seven gifts we Gentiles learn of the Trinity and thus after the three days of preparation we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. We are fed sitting on the ground not the grass for it indicates that we have rejected the comforts and conveniences of this world and seek the kingdom beyond. The bread is broken by Our Lord; He gives thanks to the Father and He gives the broken loaves to his apostles to be distributed.
The apostles went out two by two to preach the Gospel to the whole world. They bring the presence of God and they feed the Gentiles with the Eternal Word and the bread of Life. Has this not continued even to this day? The very details of our life are written in the sacrifice that gives us the Bread of Eternal Life. Unless you eat of this bread and drink of this cup you have no eternal life in you. Eternal life is the plan of God for each of our souls. We are to be saints no matter what happens in this world around us.
Note that the disciples collect the fragments in 7 baskets. The fragments represent the broken lives which we possess due to our attachment to sin. These fragments will be transformed through the holy sacrifice of the mass. Nothing in our life will be wasted by God. So don't fear, have confidence that the work of God is being carried even while Satan is rearing his ugly head seeking whom he may devour. Turn to the Holy Mass, the Sacrifice of God's Son, and believe that every hurt, every cross, every joy will work unto your salvation if you love God and trust Him.
The result of the miracle was the purpose of all society and every state: i.e. to make Jesus sovereign. He is the King of kings and there will be no peace until He is given His rightful place. Note it was not a kingdom of this world but a kingdom of the hearts of all. Let us fulfill the purpose of our lives and consecrate ourselves to the Sacred Heart. From this
consecration may we then consecrate our families, our cities, our states and consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and all the fragments of this temporal life will be absorbed in the eternal Life of God. In the details of our daily life the Love of God shines out to everyone we meet. Let us be the Lights that we were meant to be. Through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass may we hand over our fragmented self and resurrect a new life in the lamb of God.
In the hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
Fr. Richard Voigt
P.S. I am remodeling a portion of my father's and mother's home to include a chapel of reparation to the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart. If you have a few spare dollars for this job and want to help then send it to me at
22272 43rd Ave in St. Augusta, Minn. 56301. God bless you for the help.