Physicists tell us that the smallest known particles in the material universe are called virtual particles (energetic photons of light). What is strange about them is that they pop into existence and then disappear. These virtual particles simply emerge from an apparent vacuum, from nothing, and then return to that vacuum. Without these virtual particles our material universe would not exist, certainly not as we know it. We wonder, where do they come from? Of course, they arise from a non-material dimension, the domain of Spirit. The material universe is a child of the spiritual world. Remember that we read these words in the opening chapters of Genesis: “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” In this context, let us read today’s Gospel from John 6:1-15:
“Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?’ He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him, ‘Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.’
One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?’
Jesus said, ‘Have the people recline.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.’ So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, ‘This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.’ Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.”
Some people wonder if this story is merely a myth meant to proclaim a spiritual truth. I don’t think so! Remember, Jesus’ consciousness was not dualistic; he saw that material creation is inseparable from the reality of God. To state it plainly, the material universe is a thought in the mind of God. Physicist and mathematician, Sir James Jeans tells us, “The stream of knowledge is heading toward a non-mechanical reality; the universe begins to look more like a great thought than like a great machine.”
Jesus’ mind was one with God’s mind. Because his will was one with the will of God, he could call forth from the vacuum (the great silence) thoughts that could materialize in time and space. Yogananda tells us, “That free and unconditioned consciousness, which all men briefly experience in certain of their dreams, is the permanent state of mind of a God-tuned master. Innocent of all personal motives and employing the creative will bestowed on him by the Creator, a Yogi rearranges the light atoms of the universe to satisfy any sincere prayer of a devotee.”
What does this mean for you and me in our day-to-day lives? We are made in the image and likeness of God, and this means that we are meant to live creatively. We are meant to build edifices of truth, beauty, and goodness in our personal lives and in society at large. We do this not by imposing our egoic will on creation, people, or life. Rather, we enter into the great vacuum, the great silence, in daily meditation. In this silence, we let go of our personal prejudices, preferences, and passions. In this way, we attune ourselves to the very mind and will of God. From this place of humble attunement with God, our thoughts, words and deeds become powerfully creative. And just as Jesus multiplied fishes and loves, we multiply the flow of peace, joy, and generous love in the world.
Jesus, Guruji,
Remind me:
I, too, can multiply
Loaves and fish
To feed the hungry.
