Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/216

 describe the  provisions  the  Apostles  had  carried  with them indicate  that  the  five  barley  loaves  were  of  the cheapest kind,  and  the  two  fishes  a  species  of  sardine. So fared  the  God-man,  though  His  was  the  earth  and the fulness  thereof. And that  such  austerity  was  His rule of  life  is  further  proved  from  the  fact  that  when after His  Resurrection  He  reappeared  on  Genesareth's  shore,  His  preparing  for  them  the  selfsame meal, regardless  of  the  splendid  fish  miraculously caught, was  to  them  sufficient  proof  of  His  identity. Yet, though  the  loaves  and  fishes  are  their  all,  they grudge them  not  to  the  hungry  multitudes. Ah, Brethren, what  lessons  here  for  all  of  us! What selfsacrifice  in  the  cause  of  humanity,  no  matter  how  discouraging the  results! His mission  to  Nazareth  had been fruitless,  they  had  rejected  and  sought  to  kill Him. Capharnaum had  followed  Him  because  it saw  the  miracles  He  did;  and  this  vast  multitude,  because they  have  eaten  of  the  loaves  and  fishes,  call Him Prophet  and  hail  Him  as  their  King. Seeing, they see  not,  and  hearing,  they  do  not  understand, for the  one  return  He  craves  they  fail  to  give;  viz., faith in  His  divinity. That, and  that  alone,  was  all He sought,  but  from  first  to  last,  from  His  rejection by the  Nazarenes  to  His  weeping  over  Jerusalem, His search  was  one  long  disappointment. Yet despite ingratitude  and  unbelief  He  moves  among them as  untiringly  and  impartially  as  the  sun  that shines alike  on  good  and  bad,  feeding  the  famished, and healing  the  afflicted. Oh, how  many  there  are, who, placed  by  God  securely  on  the  mountain  of  pros-