From the Pastor's Desk - August 2, 2026

Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,

This Sunday’s gospel of the multiplication of the loaves and fish is Jesus’ only miracle that is recounted in all four evangelists. This miracle points to the Eucharistic feast which Jesus institutes at the Last Supper, and in which we participate at every Mass. Here are some of the key elements of the miracle from Matthew’s account of it:

1.        Five loaves and two fish: Jesus performs the miracle of the multiplication after

receiving offering, which is small, but is more than enough for him. At Mass we

offer God a simple sacrifice of bread and wine, but he will transform it into the

greatest gift of all, the Body and Blood of Jesus our Lord.

2.        The crowds recline on grass: This image has resonances of Psalm 23, where

the Good Shepherd “makes me lie down in green pastures.” Jesus is the

Good Shepherd who “restores our soul,” and “prepares a table before me,” by

feeding us with food from heaven.

3.        Take, blessed, broke, gave: Jesus takes the loaves, says the blessing,

broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples. These are exactly the same

actions that Jesus performs, down to the very words, at the Last Supper

when he institutes the Eucharist. These words and actions are used at every Mass as the priest takes the offering, blesses it through the power of the

Holy Spirit, breaks the consecrated host, and gives Communion to the faithful for our spiritual nourishment.

4.        Twelve wicker baskets: Jesus doesn’t want any of this miraculous food to go

to waste. At the Mass, we reserve the consecrated hosts in the tabernacle,

because Christ is entirely present in the Eucharist. Twelve is the number

symbolizing Israel, and Jesus shows that he will restore and gather Israel

together by the gift of this miraculous food. We are most fully the new and

restored Israel of God when we celebrate the Eucharist.

The gospel relates that the people ate and were satisfied. The Greek word for “satisfied,” means that they were fully satiated, to the point that they couldn’t eat another bite. In receiving Holy Communion, the Lord satiates our soul’s deepest longing, our hunger for communion with God. May we never cease to marvel at the miracle of the Eucharist, God’s greatest and most efficacious gift for fulfilling our deepest need for him.

In Christ,

Fr. Dave