Groups of Fifty

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. It is a celebration of the basis of our faith, the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharistic meal. It is a belief that makes us truly Catholic. I have preached on this date every year since I was ordained and I have always spoken about the true presence of The Lord.
  As I prepare to preach today, and as I reflected on the readings, something else was intriguing me. The Holy Spirit was causing me to ponder a different view on today's readings.
  We are all very familiar with the miracle presented today. Perhaps it is the story of the loaves and the fishes that is one of the more interesting ones that we hear as children. So we know that there is no way that this small amount of food could possibly feed 5000+ people. And yet the bible passage states that all were satisfied and there was still food left over. But there is a line often skimmed over. As the apostles ask Jesus what to do, He tells them to sit in groups of 50. Why? Why can they not just sit they way they are now? Why, if someone is shy, can they not sit alone? This may makes some of the five thousand uncomfortable. After all, when we go to an event, such as a wedding or dinner dance, one of the first things we do is pick up our place seating card and then seek out who we are seated with. We try to determine if we know anyone, or are with the people we prefer. And Jesus forces them to sit with a fairly large number, assuring that though they may know a few, no one will know all.
  Would the miracle not happen if they were not seated this way? What was the purpose?
  If someone said to me that on the way to work this morning they passed a giraffe crossing the parkway, I would have a hard time believing it. But that belief changes if several, or twenty, or even fifty people witness the same fact. It also changes based on who says it. I am less likely to believe a stranger that a close relative, or someone I know is rather learned or trusted. All of these ideas are factors here.
  As this miracle takes place, the fact that there are fairly large groups sitting together makes it easier for all to experience the miracle and know the awesome power that has just touched their lives in an intimate way. And since it happens in every group, as they speak with those in each group, the truly understand that this was not some trick, since all had the same experience whoever they were with. This was an act of Godly power. Jesus revealing His divine nature.
  Ad on this feast, as well as every Sunday and Holy day, we gather as a group and experience a similar miracle first hand. We gather as ordinary bread and wine are miraculously transformed into the body and blood of the one , risen Lord. And although to non-believers this may still look like bread and wine, be understand differently. We, in the faith of our hearts, in the faith of our minds, in the faith of our souls, see not merely bread and wine. We see out Lord becoming a part of us in a most intimate way. In a way that no one else can. And even is science can not prove that Christ is present, we know better. Because we were told it was true by a learned person, a trusted person, a divine person. We were told this by our God Himself, Jesus Christ. And with the faith of a child we profess that we need no proof, because it must be true!