The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle attested in all four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It is considered one of the most memorable events in Jesus’ public ministry. In Sacred Scripture, eating and drinking symbolizes the reception of divine wisdom in the Old Testament. It might seem that Jesus wants the crowd to go hungry but the Lord knows exactly what He is doing. He seeks first to awaken the faith of His disciples to handle a situation that is far beyond their capabilities. Even more, He is calling them to participate in His own divine work of providing for the needs of the people. The feeding of the five thousand is a foreshadowing of the miraculous feeding of the Eucharist. As food nourishes the body, so the Eucharist nourishes the soul by strengthening our love and union with Jesus transforming us into a closer image of Him.