Loaves and Fishes

Giovanni Lanfranco. Miracle of the Bread and Fish. 1620-23. Dublin.
The Gospel reading for the 4th Sunday of Lent*, in the Tridentine mass, is the same as, that, for the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time†, year B. The only difference -- is the older mass prefaces the Gospel with: At that time, In illo tempore. And this is germane, for every mass, it presages the Eucharistic miracle‡, which is celebrated in every mass.

After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased. Jesus therefore went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand. When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes, and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to try him; for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth§ of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him: There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves, and two fishes; but what are these among so many? Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten. Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet, that is to come into the world. Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force, and make him king, fled again into the mountain himself alone.―John vi. 1-15. DRC

_____________________________
* 22 March 2009
† 7 July 2009
‡ [forgive me this indulgence, dear reader] There is a rubbish, protestant (desanctifying) argument, often repeated in sermons and pop psychology, promulgated by William Barclay*1907,†1978. I have heard two priests quote Barclay: one perhaps unknowingly on this; the other directly on something else. I was, somewhat, shocked, at the latter, for he being extremely, political (privately) in the fanatical, radio, Republican manner, and thusly -- myopic and naïve in regards to politic and actual reality, whilst generally, liturgically being conservative; it seemed incongruous, that, he uses protestant exemplars, at times, and all positively. This is not a journal of a protestant Republican.
§ Ducentorum denariorum