A friend told me that his son, when still a young child, described the Transfiguration as, “Jesus and his friends went camping.”  Today’s Gospel could be summarized as, “Jesus and his friends had a picnic.”  As simple as each of these descriptions is, they carry much deeper significance.

In the first reading, we hear of a beautiful feast on the mountain of God.  This feast is the ideal of the message of Jesus, as well as prophets before him.  A mountain where all could come and feast on the goodness of God.  A place where there is no longer separation between God and God’s people. Division, persecution, racism, sexism, etc. is left to rest. 

In the Gospel, we have a brief experience of this bountiful feast of God.  The people had gathered to hear Jesus.  The spectacle was almost circus-like with miracles happening all around.  Time was passing.  It was getting late.  The group needed food after three days of following Jesus and not eating.  Jesus was genuinely worried about them.  They were up on a mountaintop, not a place where food could be easily made or purchased.  Then, Jesus asks his disciples to bring out the food they have, blesses it and distributes it among the people gathered.  This is the true miracle.  From scarcity comes abundance. 

During this time of year, it seems like we celebrate the loaves and fishes miracle over and over again.  At Thanksgiving meals, everyone brings something, eats their fill, yet there are always leftovers.  Holiday parties and celebrations up through the New Year seem to have the same effect.  Possibly worried about paying bills and having enough to purchase gifts for family, there always seems to be a little extra to toss in the red buckets outside of Stop and Shop, enough to get a gift for a child in need, and enough to donate a can of food for a local food drive.  Two-for-one deals offer an opportunity to buy something needed and donate the extra. 

Somehow, during the preparations for Christmas, we experience Christ among us already in the banquet that we share with those around us… giving us a glimpse of the heavenly banquet that is to come into fullness when death is no longer and we are fully united with God. 

During this Advent season, may you be willing to give from your loaves and fishes and may you experience an abundance of Christ’s joy and love in return.