Hunger is a bodily need...
Illustration
Hunger is a bodily need filled by food, here bread and fish in one of Christ's miracles. Two things are most important here: Jesus referred to the loaf as his body; later the Church was known as the Body of Christ. Here Jesus breaks the bread (once) and keeps giving (over and over) the bread and fish, according to the Greek. The disciples discerned a large body of people, but failed to discern that they were the Body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 11:28) and so naturally they were overwhelmed and said, "Send them on their way to get food, because we can not help so many ..."
An old anecdote tells of a visit to the eternal realm by a prospective resident. First, hell -- a banquet room filled with people with the sourest of dispositions and showing signs of starvation, while the tables groaned with food and drink. Why? Their arms were immobilized by staffs lashed in a way which prevented them reaching their mouths. Heaven -- the same set up, but joy and plenty for they were feeding each other.
Yet, this is no simple story about "sharing," but a revelation about the adequacy of Christ's body for our Church in its earthly mission of service.
An old anecdote tells of a visit to the eternal realm by a prospective resident. First, hell -- a banquet room filled with people with the sourest of dispositions and showing signs of starvation, while the tables groaned with food and drink. Why? Their arms were immobilized by staffs lashed in a way which prevented them reaching their mouths. Heaven -- the same set up, but joy and plenty for they were feeding each other.
Yet, this is no simple story about "sharing," but a revelation about the adequacy of Christ's body for our Church in its earthly mission of service.
