Marc. 8, 1-9.
At that time, when there was a great crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them: For they have tarried with me three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I should send them home without eating, they would die of hunger by the way. For some had come from afar. And his disciples said unto him, Whence shall we have bread here in the wilderness to fill them? And he asked them: How much do you have of bread? They said, "Seven. And he commanded the people to lie down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples to set before them: and they set before the people. And had a little fish; and he gave thanks, and commanded the same also to be presented. And they did eat, and were filled: and they took up the rest of the fragments, seven baskets. And there were about four thousand of them that had eaten; and he sent them away.
This miraculous work was done twice by our dear Lord Jesus. For at midfast your beloved hears that with five loaves and two fishes he fed five thousand men, without wife and child, and twelve baskets of fragments remained. But in today's Gospel you hear how with seven loaves and a few fishes four thousand were fed, and seven baskets full were left over.
2. But it seems as if such a miraculous work was ordained to be preached at this time, so that the people would learn, because the harvest is now beginning at the time of the year, that the fruits of the field are beginning to be brought in, that everyone would be reminded by this gospel that it is God's blessing, and that God is still doing the miracle with us today that he did in the wilderness, that he can reach far with a little through his blessing, and feed and nourish many; so that, even though there may be a small supply or the grain may have turned out badly, we may still hold on to this comfort, that it does not depend on that alone whether one has much, but on the blessing of our dear Lord Christ.
(3) For this is the proper way of the shameful, unbelieving world: if it does not see and have an abundance of all things, it soon wants to despair, as if it had to die of hunger. And indeed God has supplied us abundantly for many years now; it does not help yet, it will
Nevertheless, everyone will starve. In addition, the misers and usurers, who keep grain and wine behind, do not want to let it happen to the people for an equal penny, but wait until it becomes more expensive and may be worth more. These are unbelievers who neither know nor believe in such blessings and miracles; otherwise they would primarily look at God's word and keep to it, and entrust all their worries to the rich God in heaven, who can bless what is small and make much out of it.
(4) Now we see here two consolations, namely, that our dear Lord Christ will supply both the soul with the word, and the body with bread; so that, though he may cause his own to suffer want for a time, to be poor and despised (for all the world is hostile to them, and grudges them not a morsel of bread), yet they shall not doubt that he will provide for them, that they shall not die of hunger, and that he will provide them with a fair livelihood, that they may be able to support themselves with means.
Now the Lord deals with such blessings according to the rule he gives in Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God, and all the rest will be added to you. The evangelist reports that the people stayed with the Lord for three days. But what do you think they did or sought with him? No doubt nothing else, but that they followed the word and desired to hear it. This is after
The reason that he cares for them so warmly, and makes himself believe that he must see to it that they get something to eat so that they do not die of hunger.
(6) That therefore this should be the chief doctrine, that we should seek first the kingdom of God and the word, and pursue the same. When this is done, we should then let the Lord Christ take care of the belly. For he has already determined, if we are disciples of his word, that we shall not die of hunger. Therefore he saith, "I mourn for the people." And it is certain that before there is a lack of bread, the stones must become bread.
(7) In the same way, in chapter 6, when Christ feeds the five thousand men in the wilderness, Marcus says that he crossed over and went into a wilderness. When the people became aware of him, they ran after him from all the cities and towns. But when he saw the great multitude, saith Marcus, he was grieved of them, because they were as sheep having no shepherd; and he began a long preaching.
(8) This is the first lamentation, which the Lord, as the right shepherd and bishop of souls, considers, that they were like a scattered flock. Just as we were under the papacy: the one called St. Barbara, the other St. Catherine; there was no right preacher anywhere to lead us to the right pasture (that is, to hold out the pure doctrine); everything floated and lived in idolatry and error. Marcus says that it was the same with the poor people of the Jews: priests and Levites were appointed to preach about the future Christ and his kingdom of grace. But what did they do? They turned the shepherds into harmful wolves, preaching their own dreams so that the poor sheep pined away. Just like us in the papacy, since no one knew how he was with God: that God for Christ's sake wanted to be merciful to us and forgive sin. Everyone thought that if he wanted to be saved, he would have to help with his works and life. This is the first sorrow and harm that the Lord sees in the poor people.
He said, "What are the wicked priests and Levites doing? There are so many people who would like to hear and learn from our Lord God, but there is no one to teach and guide them; those who should do it are busy with their splendor, avarice, and pride.
(9) Therefore Marcus says: "They were like sheep that have no shepherd. Ah, Lord God, if a sheep has no shepherd, it is a poor, abandoned little animal. It is in need, even if it has a shepherd, a dog and a pen; what will it be, then, if there is no shepherd, no dog, no pen? It is the same with us poor people. Shouldn't the devil reign there, where there is no word of God nor right preaching; because those have enough to do to stay safe from the wolf, who like to hear the gospel, pray diligently, and also have pious pastors and faithful pastors? Therefore, where God's word is not pure, and no one knows how he should pray and command God, it very soon happens that people are persuaded to accept this saint and that one another saint as savior, and thus all go astray and come under these wolves.
(10) The Lord's first remedy for such afflictions and great distress is to preach, and to draw and gather together the erring sheep by the word. Therefore we have great cause to consider this good deed, and to praise such kind and loving eyes of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, that he sees into the hearts of the people in this way, and takes care of them so warmly that they go without a shepherd. Therefore, even though he had gone into the wilderness for the sake of his rest, as Marcus says, he still comes forth and laments to the people that they are spiritually hungry and famished, and preaches a long sermon to them, feeding and comforting them first of all in their souls.
(11) So it is in today's Gospel, when the evangelist says: "The people stayed with the Lord Christ for three whole days, no doubt hearing his sermons. And it would be good that such sermons were written; but the evangelists only wanted to report the work.
12 This is now the first piece that our
The Lord Christ is careful and has a sorrowful heart for the abandoned souls. For this reason, he stops his prayer, which he has to do against his Father, takes care of the poor people and preaches to them.
(13) Because he has such a heart, how do you think he will receive on the last day the industrious pastors who do not faithfully maintain their office and still seduce their parishioners? item, princes and lords who force the people to idolatry and do not want to let them keep the word pure? Especially, however, what do our bishops want to say here and how do they want to answer for themselves, who bear the name and boast of the office that God has made them bishops and pastors, and yet do nothing, except that they knowingly keep the people in idolatry, and do not want to let them come to the right knowledge of the Word and right worship; punish their subjects for this, both in property and in body, where they do not want to allow such idolatry and do not want to handle it.
Item 14: What will father and mother say, who do not keep their children and servants diligently to the church and the word? Then he will undoubtedly say, "You lords and wives, you kings and princes, you had so many souls under your jurisdiction that you should have raised them to godliness and kept them diligently to the word; but you did not do so, you let them become reprobate and grow up without any godliness. From whom shall I demand an account for such unspeakable harm? From no one, but from you parents, lords and wives, kings and princes, whom I have commanded to see that your children, servants and subjects learn something. For this is not the reason why fathers and mothers, rulers and sovereigns are here, that they alone make peace for their children and subjects and fill their bellies; but they should also do everything possible to lead children, servants and subjects to the truth and knowledge of the Word, and thus, above all, to feed the soul, so that people may become God-fearing, pious and blessed.
(15) Therefore, the highest and greatest work and the noblest service that we can do on earth is to help others.
Bring people, especially those who are commanded to us, to the knowledge of God and the holy gospel. The devil is very hostile to such good work and opposes it fiercely with mobs and persecution. Besides this, it is a very difficult thing in itself and takes a lot of effort and work before the children and the young people are brought a little on their feet, so that they accept the teachings and become God-fearing.
(16) This service and the greatest almsgiving is the first thing the Lord does here, helping the poor people's souls. This means that the Sabbath is properly sanctified, so that God is served more and the people are better helped than if the Lord had given a thousand guilders to each of them who heard his sermon. For spiritual food far surpasses bodily food, by which a man lives forever.
(17) Let fathers, mothers, lords, wives and rulers follow this example, so that they may earn heaven for their children, servants and subjects, that is, do the highest and most pleasing work for God, if they first help souls that they do not lead to the devil.
(18) After this spiritual almsgiving (after the sermon, which is called rich almsgiving), the other, lesser almsgiving also comes, that the Lord may also help the body. For Christ did not come to destroy soul or body; he wants to help everywhere. Therefore, there is no reason to think that a Carthusian would want to fast and pray himself to death. The body is indeed given the task of not walking idly, but of exercising itself. But the exercise should be such that the body remains healthy. But whoever harms the body (as has happened in the monasteries of the papacy to many who have corrupted themselves with too much praying, fasting, singing, watching, casteism, reading, lying so badly that they have had to die before their time) is his own murderer; beware of this, as of a great mortal sin.
19 Sirach speaks on the 33rd chapter v. 25.: "To the donkey belongs his food, scourge and burden; so to the servant his bread, punishment and work." "But," he speaks soon after,
V. 30, "lay not too much upon any man, and keep moderation in all things." The body is mortal, therefore it must have its food, that it may remain healthy. Then it must not walk idly, but have something in mind and work; otherwise it will become horny and restless. Thirdly, the scourge or punishment must also be there, so that he always stops and continues, not becoming lazy or careless. But it should have a measure. For man cannot always work, he must also have his rest, without which no one can last long. Therefore, God has not only ordained the day for work, but also the night for sleep and rest; and we keep the noon hour for eating. For God is not a murderer, as is the devil, who wants the saints of works to fast to death, to pray, to watch. But God has no pleasure in this; so it is said: Keep moderation in all things, as the wise man admonishes.
20 This is the other consolation, that we learn the matter well and seek first the word of God. Whether we seek the same in the wilderness and suffer lack of it is not the issue. We have a rich Lord who takes care of our needs and provides for us in a far better way than we can provide for ourselves. For we can do nothing with our worry. But where Christ cares, all abundance must be found, even if there were nothing at all, as can be seen here.
21 The apostles also care, but much in a different way than Christ; they say, "Whence shall we have bread in the wilderness, that we may satisfy them?" This is called worrying, but such worrying does not help the cause. On the other hand, when Christ takes care of the people and thinks how to provide food for them, although there are only seven loaves of bread and a few small fish, it is enough to feed four thousand men, and there are still seven baskets full of loaves left over; not counting the women and children, there will undoubtedly have been many of them.
22) Now tell me, is it not true that anyone who could know for certain that with a few guilders he could reach as far and live as long as a rich man of ten thousand, would certainly not dispute it?
If he had only one florin, he would not consider himself richer than the other man with ten thousand florins. But if he wanted to insist and defy his large pile, the latter would still mock him and say: You have a vain joy, for though you have much, you have no advantage over me, unless you count more than I do; otherwise your ten thousand florins must melt away as soon as my one florin.
(23) How is it, then, that we, who are all Christians, or at least we all want to be, do not do the same, neither taking comfort in abundance nor in plenty, and not being afraid of lack, nor being careful about it? For if we faithfully and diligently adhere to God's word, there shall be no lack; Christ provides for us, and must follow that we may have food. For it is not a question of whether we have a little or a little; it is a question of his blessing. If he adds it to the small supply you have, not only will you not run out, but the blessing must also overflow, and more must remain than was there in the beginning.
(24) If we learn this, we will not only have nothing to worry about, even if there is a shortage, but we will also be able to avoid the miserliness that otherwise always afflicts us. For we all have the bad habit of thinking that he who has much may do all the less, and may go all the further. That's why everyone wants to have a lot, and people finally get to the point where they ask neither for God nor for people, if only they can satisfy their avarice and scrape together a lot of good things.
(25) He that diligently meditated on this miracle would have other thoughts, and would not be comforted by abundance, nor be dismayed by want. For he would set his heart and conclude: He who has Christ has such a steward, who can make much out of little, even everything out of nothing. But where Christ is not with his blessing, great heaps are broken down *) and decrease from day to day.
*) to break up, that is, to come apart in fibers.
D. Red.
(26) These seven loaves here and the small fishes may have belonged to a meal for the Lord himself and his disciples. For since the Lord was in the habit of spending time with the people for prayer and other things, the disciples had to take food on such journeys. But since so many people come to the Lord, and this need arises that they do not have enough to eat, this supply must serve to feed the whole crowd. As soon as the Lord takes the seven loaves, breaks them and gives them to the disciples to present to the people, they visibly grow under his hands, so that he always gives to the disciples what he has broken, and yet more remains in his hands than he gives out. He knows this art and demonstrates it too well to his disciples, who follow his word, but not sooner, unless there is need and lack. Therefore, whoever desires such a blessing, do not complain about the lack, that for a time it is bad. Hold fast to the word and to your profession, according to Christ's command; then let him take care how he feeds you.
27 For no man hath seen or heard that a Christian died of hunger. They may be persecuted, imprisoned, and many killed; but if they have first received the first and rich alms, and have believed the word, they have all found food, and have been fed. For a Christian shall not be put to shame, though he have not so good, glorious, and plenty, as the rich men have. For here things are also bad. The Lord Christ gives his guests a piece of bread and fish, and a drink of water, and does not set before them ten dishes, delicious malmsey and various wines, as the rich use to have in abundance.
28 The Lord also wants his Christians here not to strive for great things during the short time of their pilgrimage, but to be satisfied with the little that he has given them. For what more do you want, but to be able to avoid hunger and keep a healthy body? Be content with that. If other people have better, let them thank God for it, and be careful not to get carried away with the abundance.
sin and abuse to their own detriment.
(29) For it is evident that rich men's cakes do not serve everyone, and that people do not remain healthy for long; that some would rather have a piece of bread and a fresh drink of water to keep them healthy than such abundance, since sickness and an unhealthy body must follow. As is commonly seen in the rich, who seek pleasure more than what is healthy for the body and serves their needs. That is why they prosper so much that many of them die of various diseases before their time. On the other hand, poor people, who must eat and drink what they have for their necessities, stay fresh and healthy and live many years. And it hardly serves such bankers right. They could eat and live moderately, make less of excess, make do with two, or at most three, fairly good meals, so that they would be full, cheerful, in good spirits and remain merry. They do not do this, but make too much of the desire, thus harming their body and life, so that they still become sick and ill in their youth, and must die before time.
(30) But where are the poor, who cannot have dry bread, and who should not suffer the rich if they could escape the great expenses and excesses which they spend on clothing and banqueting, since not only is everything superfluous, but also many useless things must perish and perish? For the rich, who are the disciples and followers of the rich man, Luke 16, have this unkindness about them, that they do not take what belongs to and serves for splendor, abundance and lust. But if they should give a poor man a coat, or otherwise help him, they complain, or do it unwillingly; and if they should give and help the poor abundantly, they do it unwillingly, and act as if their ruin were upon them.
31 Therefore our Lord God does exceedingly well, either to let it finally melt away, where they have bathed before in wine, so that afterwards they have scarcely the good water; or, if they have no lack of the good, to let them have it.
If the rich have their own sicknesses and diseases, they have to suffer in their bodies, which is more distressing and painful. As you can see, the rich have their own special afflictions and diseases, ailments, stones, gout, paralysis and the like. This is because they know how to care for their bodies so well, and leave the poor, meager people to suffer hardship; for whom God repays the lack they suffer, even though they have only dry bread and a drink of water, so that they are still healthy, cheerful and in good spirits. This is what I wanted to report here as a reminder, since we hear how the Lord feeds his guests so briefly, with a piece of bread and a piece of fish.
32 So today's gospel serves this purpose,
That we may learn to know our dear Lord Jesus Christ as a gracious Lord and Father, who is pleased to help body and soul, and who comes first with the help we need by sharing his word with us, and thereby teaching us how to know God and be saved by grace. By grace we shall be saved. After that, whoever is in need of the He will not leave us alone, but will add His blessing to our small supply, so that it may prosper and increase against all the world's reason and thoughts. For such teaching we should give thanks to God today, and ask that he may provide us with his spiritual and temporal blessings through Christ, amen.