“You Give Them Something to Eat”: Feeding of the 5,000 — 8th Sunday of Matthew

August 03, 2025 during Divine Liturgy

On the 8th Sunday of readings from the Gospel of Matthew for this year, Fr. Matthew Howell preaches about the feeding of the 5,000. He starts by telling about how his friend and daughter think his homilies are boring, and then launches into his main point about how Jesus wants us to do the best we can with what we have and then leave the impossible up to Him. He explains how with God nothing is impossible, but we just need to bring our gifts to Him and ask Him to do that which we are unable to do. He uses ⁠St. Salome⁠, the myrrh-bearer whom we commemorate today, as an example and also ties his point to the Divine Liturgy. Along the way he discusses building a new church temple and the parish work day from the day before; connects to several scripture stories including the Annunciation of Mary (Luke 1:37), Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 18:14), Job; King Asa (2 Chron. 14:10); The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33); and Elias and the Widow of Zarephath (3 Kings 17 in the Orthodox Study Bible); and also drops a Star Trek replicator reference. 

Previous Homilies for this Gospel Reading:

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Brethren, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I belong to Paul, ” or “I belong to Apollos, ” or “I belong to Cephas, ” or “I belong to Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispos and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Matthew 14:14-22

At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.