Matthew 14

Matthew 14:1

JOHN THE BAPTIST IS PUT TO DEATH

[Matthew 14, 1—12. Mark 6, 14. Luke 6, 7. 9]

HERODIAS was filled with hatred$^(1)$ of John the Baptist, and sought to destroy him. But Herod esteemed John, and for a time obeyed him in many things. Moreover Herod was still afraid of the people, who considered John a great prophet.

Now Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet$^(2)$ to the princes$^(3)$ and nobles of his kingdom. And the daughter of Herodias, by her former husband, coming in, danced before the guests, and Herod was pleased$^(4)$; whereupon he promised, with an oath, to give her whatsoever she would ask of him, even if it were the half of his kingdom.

But she, being instructed beforehand by her mother, said: “Give me here in a dish$^(5)$ the head of John the Baptist.” The

$^(1)$ With hatred. The evangelist St. Mark (6, 20) says that Herod heard John willingly, and asked his advice and followed it. This made Herodias fear that, if John preached to him any more, the weak king might end by putting her away from him. She, therefore, knew no rest as long as John was alive.

$^(2)$ A banquet. In the castle of Macharus, where John was imprisoned.

$^(3)$ Princes. The chief men about the court of Galilee, who, however, were all Jews.

$^(4)$ Was pleased. Not only Herod, but also his guests (Mark 6, 21) were pleased by the unseemly dancing and bewitching appearance of the girl, who but too closely resembled her wicked mother.

$^(5)$ In a dish. The heartless creature, far from being horrified at her mother’s request, hastened, without even hesitating, to ask for what she wanted. She demanded that the holy prophet’s head should be given to her “forthwith”, because

— XXXII. JOHN THE BAPTIST IS PUT TO DEATH.

king was grieved on hearing these words, but thinking himself bound to keep the oath which he had sworn before his guests, he sent word to the gaoler, who beheaded John and presented his head on a dish to the wicked daughter of a still more wicked mother. Then the disciples of the holy Baptist took the body of their master, and buried it; and they came to tell Jesus what had happened.

COMMENTARY.

Growth in sin. When Herod persuaded his brother Philip’s wife to leave her lawful husband for him, both he and Herodias committed a grievous sin. This sin led them on to commit other sins. Herod threw John into prison, though he “knew him to be a just and holy man”. He thus sinned against justice. Herodias hated the holy Baptist, persuaded her daughter to sin, and thus caused the Saint’s death.

Oaths. Herod sinned by taking an oath thoughtlessly and without necessity. Now, ought he to have kept his oath when the sinful request for John’s head was made to him? No; for an oath to do something sinful is, in itself, invalid. A man sins if he takes such an oath, and he sins again if he keeps it.

Human respect made Herod grant the girl’s cruel request. He was ashamed in the presence of his guests to break a promise which obviously could not apply to a gift such as was asked of him. He did not fear to offend God by committing a very grievous sin, but he shrank from the false judgment of men, and thus gave the cruel and murderous order on his birthday—the very day when those in power were accustomed to perform acts of mercy.

Sharing in the guilt of others. Even the guests were not innocent of John’s death. They ought to have remonstrated with Herod, and not have passed by his sin in silence.

Virtue alone is beautiful. We all detest the daughter of Herodias. She was beautiful, she wore fine clothes, she danced very cleverly, but she had a vicious heart.

St. John died a martyr to his calling. Having been called by God to be a preacher of penance, he represented Herod’s sin to him, and reminded him of the law of God. On this account he died a violent death at the age of thirty-two. To him applies the eighth beatitude: “Blessed are they who suffer persecution, for justice’ sake.” His soul passed directly into Limbo, where he, like St. Joseph, awaited the

she feared that, as soon as he was sober, Herod would refuse her request. Tradition says that Herodias treated the Saint’s head with contumely, and pierced his tongue with needles.

— XXXIII. THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES.

arrival of the Messias, and the speedy accomplishment of the work of Redemption. When our Lord ascended into heaven, he was taken up with Him into everlasting happiness. The Church honours him as a great Saint, and on the 24th of June celebrates his nativity, because he was born without original sin.

Dancing is often the occasion of sin, and unseemly dancing is forbidden by the Sixth Commandment.

Intemperance (or gluttony) is a capital sin. Herod would not have been carried away by the sight of the girl’s dancing to make a rash and frivolous oath, unless he had been excited by too much wine.

Comparisons to be drawn between St. John and Elias, Herod and Achab, Herodias and Jezabel.

The end of Herod. Later on, Herod was deposed by the Roman emperor and banished to Lyons. Both he and his wife died in misery. The daughter of Herodias perished during a pleasure-party on the ice. The ice broke, she fell into the water, and her head was severed from her body by a piece of broken ice.

APPLICATION. Do you ever swear without necessity, or use the name of God irreverently in your conversation?

Matthew 14:13

THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES AND THE WALKING ON THE WATER

[Matthew 14, 13 21. Mark 6, 30-44. Luke 9, 10 17. John 6, 1 13]

THE Feast of the Passover being at hand, the apostles returned to their Divine Master, and gave Him an account of all they had done. But He said to them: “Come ye apart into a desert place, and rest a little.” For there were so many coming and going that they had no time to eat. So they sailed across the lake and went into a retired spot¹. But even there the people followed them in large numbers².

Jesus, seeing this great multitude, had compassion on them, and, without giving Himself any rest, went up into a mountain. There He sat with His apostles and disciples, and began to teach

¹ Retired spot. In an uninhabited neighbourhood.

² Large numbers. Travelling on foot round the northern side of the Lake (Mark 6, 33).

— XXXIII. THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES.

them many things. When He had finished His discourse, He cured the sick that were brought to Him.

Now the day was already far spent¹, and His disciples came to Him and said: “Send them away, that going into the next villages and towns, they may buy themselves meat to eat, for we are here in a desert place.” Jesus said: “They have no need to go. Give you² them to eat.” He then inquired how much bread they had. Andrew replied that there were only five loaves and two fishes. Jesus said: “Bring them hither to me, and make the men sit down.”

When the multitude, numbering five thousand men, besides women and children, had sat down on the grass, Jesus took the loaves³ and fishes⁴, and, looking up to heaven, blessed them⁵, and gave to His apostles to distribute⁶ among the people.

Now all the people ate and were satisfied. And Jesus ordered His disciples to gather up the fragments, lest they should be lost. They did so, and filled twelve baskets⁷ with the remainder of the five loaves and two fishes. The multitude, seeing this wonderful miracle, said among themselves: “This is the Prophet⁸ indeed, that is to come into the world.”

Jesus knowing their thoughts, and fearing that they would make Him king⁹ by force, told his disciples to sail across the water, while He Himself went up into the mountain to pray.

¹ Far spent. Passed by Jesus in teaching and healing the people.

² Give you. Jesus wished to remind His disciples that, if only they would have faith, they were themselves quite able to relieve the necessities of the people, for they had already received the great gift of miracles (Origen). However, they did not understand what He meant, neither did it occur to them that our Lord would work a miracle.

³ Loaves. The loaves were about as thick as a finger, and round. ⁴ Fishes. These were dried or baked. ⁵ Blessed them. While all eyes were fixed expectantly on our Lord.

⁶ To distribute. The miraculous multiplication began even while our Lord was dividing the loaves and fishes into pieces, and, by the power of His blessing, it continued in the hands of the apostles, who dealt out the food as they stepped from one group of people to another. The portion of food held by them never grew less, and all who were fed saw with astonishment the wondrous miracle repeated thousands of times under their very eyes.

⁷ Twelve baskets. More, therefore, was left, than had existed at the commencement.

⁸ The Prophet. The Prophet foretold by Moses, or, in other words, the Messias.

⁹ Make Him king. The impression made on the people by this stupendous miracle was very great, and, full of ecstasy, they all acknowledged Jesus to be the

— XXXIII. THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES.

It was dark when the disciples went into the ship. They had rowed about twenty or thirty furlongs in the direction of Capharnaum, and it was now almost the fourth watch of the night, when suddenly a storm¹ arose, and the sea swelled, and the ship was tossed with the waves. But, behold, Jesus came to them walking upon the sea; and drawing near the ship, He was going to pass them by; they knew Him not². They were troubled, and cried out, and thought it was an apparition. Immediately Jesus spoke to them: “Have a good heart; it is I, fear not.” Then they were all astonished³.

But Peter said: “Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come⁴ to Thee upon the waters.” Jesus said: “Come.” Peter left the ship, and walked upon the water, but, seeing the high waves, he feared⁵, and began to sink. He cried out: “Lord, save me.” Jesus stretched forth his hand, took hold of him and said: “O thou of little faith⁶, why didst thou doubt?” They returned to the ship, and the wind ceased. Then those that were in the ship cried out: “Thou art truly the Son of God.‘⁷ Presently the ship was at the place to

promised Messias. But, unfortunately, their hopes of the Messias were entirely earthly and political, for they expected that he would come to free them from the yoke of the Romans. They wished, therefore, to proclaim Jesus king of Israel, and make Him march back into Galilee at the head of these five thousand men. Our Lord saw with sorrow how far the people were from faith in Him as a Redeemer from sin, and He went up into the mountain to pray for those who were so miserably blinded.

¹ A storm. According to St. John (6, 18), “the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew”. In spite of all their efforts, the apostles could not advance, and their ship was driven about at the mercy of the winds and waves. How ardently they must have longed for Jesus’ presence, when they found themselves in such danger.

² Knew Him not. They were unable to recognise Him on account of the darkness.

³ All astonished. They knew Him by His voice. What a joyful surprise!

⁴ Bid me come. Peter could not wait until our Lord came up to them. Full of a mighty love for Him and belief in His power, he cried out: “Lord, bid me come to Thee.”

⁵ He feared. Peter was full of courage and determination at first. But when he felt the violence of the wind, and heard the sea roaring under his feet, his courage failed, his faith wavered, and he began to sink. But he knew that Jesus was near, and, trusting in Him, he cried out: “Lord, save me!”

⁶ Of little faith. If you had had a great and firm faith and had not doubted, you would not have sunk.

⁷ The Son of God. Overwhelmed by the wonders which they had witnessed during the last twelve hours, they fell at the feet of Jesus and loudly confessed their faith in His Divinity.

— XXXIII. THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES.

which they were going. When they had landed¹, the people brought the sick to Him, and He healed them, and all those who touched His garments² were made whole.

COMMENTARY.

Our Lord’s Omnipotence. St. Augustine writes thus about the miracle of the loaves and fishes: “Jesus multiplied the bread in His Hands by virtue of the same power wherewith God multiplies a few grains of corn into a waving cornfield. The five loaves were like unto those grains of corn which, when sown, do not lie unfruitful in the ground, but to which increase is immediately given by Him who is the creator of the world.” Thus the miraculous multiplication of the loaves showed forth the creative Omnipotence of our Lord, proving Him to be the Almighty God who every year multiplies the grains of corn which are sown in the earth.

Figure of the Holy Eucharist. The great miracle of the loaves and fishes is one of the most striking figures of the Blessed Eucharist, in which the Saviour of the world nourishes the souls of countless millions of His faithful people.

The object of the miracle of the loaves. Besides the common object of all our Lord’s miracles, viz. the increase of men’s faith in Him, this miracle had one special object, viz. to foreshadow, and to prepare men’s hearts for the marvellous Food which He gives us in the most holy Sacrament of the altar—the gift which He promised on the following day. Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist feeds the souls of the faithful with the most precious bread from heaven, multiplying His own Body, and distributing It by the hands of His priests. And with this heavenly Food all are satisfied, for it appeases our spiritual hunger by uniting us to our Lord Jesus, the author of all grace.

The Goodness of Jesus. He had compassion on the people, teaching them and healing their sick. He fed the multitude which followed Him with food both for their bodies and their souls; and because they were so eager to hear His word that they forgot to supply themselves with food, He supplied them with it by a wonderful miracle. “Seek first the

¹ Landed. Without any effort or action on the part of the apostles, the little ship accomplished the rest of the voyage, a distance of at least a mile and a half, in one moment. The whole distance from Capharnaum to the opposite, eastern coast is about six miles. According to John 6, 19, they had rowed 25 or 30 furlongs, or about four miles and a half, before the ship came to a stand-still. Thus the ship was still a mile and a half from the western shore when Jesus entered it.

² Touched His garments. The cure of the woman with an issue of blood (chapter XXX) had convinced all beholders that the mere touch of our Lord’s garments sufficed to cure the sick.

— XXXIII. THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES.

kingdom of God and His justice, and all these things (which are necessary for the life of the body) shall be added unto you.”

Grace at meals. Before multiplying and distributing the bread, Jesus raised His eyes to heaven and prayed. Thus we, before and after our meals, ought to raise our hearts to God, from whom all good things come.

Waste. The words of our Lord bid us also to beware of wastefulness: “Gather up the fragments, lest they be lost.” It is wrong to allow the gifts of God to be wasted. What is left over from our food should, if possible, be given to the poor, and, if not, to animals.

The annual multiplication of food. The wonderful miracle of the loaves ought to remind us how every year God gives increase to the seed which we sow. For example, ten grains of wheat sown in the ground produce three or four hundred grains: one small potato produces from ten to twenty potatoes, and so forth with everything. Now, who has given to the seed its power of germinating in the ground, of growing up, and of bearing fruit? Who sends the sunshine, dew and rain, without which no seed can thrive? It is God. The annual increase of food is the work of God’s Omnipotence. We do not call it a miracle, for it all happens in what we call the course of nature, and we are so accustomed to it that it makes no impression on us. “The wonderful way in which God governs the world and provides for all His creatures makes no impression on us. His marvels are so constantly occurring that we scarcely observe His wonderful action in every little grain of corn &c. It is on this account that sometimes, in His mercy, God performs wonders out of the course of nature, so that men may realize the marvel (not because it is greater than what is constantly occurring, but only more unusual), since the every-day wonders make no impression on us. The government of creation is really a greater marvel than the feeding of five thousand with five loaves, but whereas no one marvels at the one, all men were astounded at the other, not because it was greater, but because it was more unusual” (St. Augustine).

The Divinity of our Lord. Our Lord wrought four miracles in the early dawn after the miracle of the loaves—miracles of a new kind, which on that account made a great impression on the apostles, and so quickened their faith, that they cried out: “Thou art the Son of God!” 1. Jesus Himself walked on the sea, stepping as easily and firmly over the seething waves as He would have done on dry land. He did not work this miracle on any one else, but by it He manifested Himself as a supernatural Being transcending the ordinary laws of nature. As He trod the dark abyss of water, He stood forth as the Lord of creation, being subject to the otherwise inexorable laws of nature (such as gravitation) only in so far as He pleased. 2. At our Lord’s bidding St. Peter walked on the water, and was kept up by

KNIGHT, Commentary. 3. ed. — XXXIV. JESUS PROMISES TO GIVE THE BREAD OF LIFE.

an invisible power. 3. When our Lord entered the ship, the storm was immediately quieted, and 4. the ship instantly arrived at its destination.

The object of these miracles. These four miracles, in common with the preceding miracle of the loaves, and the miracle which followed of healing the sick by the very touch of His garments, had the object of quickening and strengthening the apostles’ faith and of preparing them for the revelation of the great mystery of faith, the Real Presence of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. The miracle of our Lord walking on the water was intended to explain to them the attributes of His glorified Body; and the healing of the sick by the touch of His garments foreshadowed the effects of receiving His Sacred Body, which our Lord described in the next chapter. If the very touch of His garments could heal the sick, surely it is not hard to believe that a soul can obtain everlasting life by receiving His Body and Blood.

The faith and love of St. Peter are remarkable, and show us why our Lord Jesus Christ chose this particular apostle to be the rock on which to build His Church. All the apostles recognised our Lord’s Voice, but only to St. Peter did it occur to hasten across the water to meet Him. St. Chrysostom says: “Behold how great were the faith and love of the apostle! His faith made him say: Jesus not only can walk on the water Himself, but He can make others walk with Him! He did not say: ‘Lord, teach me to walk on the waves’, but: ‘Lord, bid me come to Thee!’ It was not for display, but for pure love of Jesus, that he demanded this great miracle.”

APPLICATION. Do you always say your grace at meals? Do you say it devoutly, or carelessly?

The great miracles you have heard about ought to strengthen your faith in Jesus and His divine word. Say to our Lord joyfully and with deep conviction: “Truly, Thou art the Son of God!” Pray to Him every day to increase your faith and to keep it from wavering.