Alcuin of York — Commentary on Scripture

John 6:1-13

Mystically, the sea signifies this tumultuous world. In the fulness of time, when Christ had entered the sea of our mortality by His birth, trodden it by His death, passed over it by His resurrectionf, then followed Him crowds of believers, both from the Jews and Gentiles. His leaving the multitude below, and ascending the heights with His disciples, signifies, that lesser precepts are to be given to beginners, higher to the more matured. His refreshing the people shortly before the Passover signifies our refreshment by the bread of the divine word; and the body and blood, i. e. our spiritual passover, by which we pass over from vice to virtue. And the Lord's eyes are spiritual gifts, which he mercifully bestows on His Elect. He turns His eyes upon them, i. e. has compassionate respect unto them. Baskets are used for servile work. The baskets here are the Apostles and their followers, who, though despised in this present life, are within filled with the riches of spiritual sacraments. The Apostles too are represented as baskets, because, that through them, the doctrine of the Trini…

Mystically, the sea signifies this tumultuous world. In the fulness of time, when Christ had entered the sea of our mortality by His birth, trodden it by His death, passed over it by His resurrectionf, then followed Him crowds of believers, both from the Jews and Gentiles.

His leaving the multitude below, and ascending the heights with His disciples, signifies, that lesser precepts are to be given to beginners, higher to the more matured. His refreshing the people shortly before the Passover signifies our refreshment by the bread of the divine word; and the body and blood, i. e. our spiritual passover, by which we pass over from vice to virtue. And the Lord's eyes are spiritual gifts, which he mercifully bestows on His Elect. He turns His eyes upon them, i. e. has compassionate respect unto them.

Baskets are used for servile work. The baskets here are the Apostles and their followers, who, though despised in this present life, are within filled with the riches of spiritual sacraments. The Apostles too are represented as baskets, because, that through them, the doctrine of the Trinity was to be preached in the four parts of the world. His not making new loaves, but multiplying what there were, means that He did not reject the Old Testament, but only developed and explained it.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:2

viz. His giving sight to the blind, and other like miracles. And it should be understood, that all, whom He healed in body, He renewed likewise in soul.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:5-6

He asks him this question, not for His own information, but in order to show His yet unformed disciple his dulness of mind, which he could not perceive of himself.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:7

Wherein he shows his dulness: for, had he perfect ideas of his Creator, he would not be thus doubting His power.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:10

Sit down, i. e. lie down, as the ancient custom was, which they could do, as there was much grass in the place.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:14

Their faith being as yet weak, they only call our Lord a Prophet, not knowing that He was God. But the miracle had produced considerable effect upon them, as it made them call our Lord that Prophet, singling Him out from the rest. They call Him a Prophet, because some of the Prophets had worked miracles; and properly, inasmuch as our Lord calls Himself a Prophet; It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. (Luke 13:33)

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:15

He who set an example of declining praise, and earthly power, sets teachers also an example of deliverance in preaching.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:22-26

To take the passage mystically: on the day following, i. e. after the ascension of Christ, the multitude standing in good works, not lying in worldly pleasures, expects Jesus to come to them. The one ship is the one Church: the other ships which come besides, are the conventicles of heretics, who seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. Wherefore He well says, Ye seek Me, because ye did eat of the loaves. (Phil. 2:21)

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:27

Bodily food only supports the flesh of the outward man, and must be taken not once for all, but daily; whereas spiritual food remaineth for ever, imparting perpetual fulness, and immortality.

When, through the hand of the priest, thou receivest the Body of Christ, think not of the priest which thou seest, but of the Priest thou dost not see. The priest is the dispenser of this food, not the author. The Son of man gives Himself to us, that we may abide in Him, and He in us. Do not conceive that Son of man to be the same as other sons of men: He stands alone in abundance of grace, separate and distinct from all the rest: for that Son of man is the Son of God, as it follows, For Him hath God the Father sealed. To seal is to put a mark upon; so the meaning is, Do not despise Me because I am the Son of man, for I am the Son of man in such sort, as that the Father hath sealed Me, i. e. given Me something peculiar, to the end that I should not be confounded with the human race, but that the human race should be delivered by Me.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:28

They understood that the meat, which remaineth unto eternal life, was the work of God: and therefore they ask Him what to do to work the work of God, i. e. obtain the meat: Then said they unto Him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God?

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:31

And to exalt the miracle of the manna, they quote the Psalm, As it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:33

Who by the humanity, which was assumed, came down from heaven, and by the divinity, which assumed it, gives life to the world.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:36

As if He said, I did not say what I did to you about the bread, because I thought you would eat it, but rather to convict you of unbelief. I say, that ye see Me, and believe not.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:37

Whomsoever therefore the Father draweth to belief in Me, he, by faith, shall come to Me, that he may be joined to Me. And those, who in the steps of faith and good works, shall come to Me, I will in no wise cast out; i. e. in the secret habitation of a pure conscience, he shall dwell with Me, and at the last I will receive him to everlasting felicity.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:50-51

Therefore I say, He that eateth this bread, dieth not: I am the living bread which came down from heaven.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:51

But men must be quickened by my life: If any man eat of this bread, he shall live, not only now by faith and righteousness, but for ever.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 6:60

i. e. that I said, you should eat My flesh, and drink My blood.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 7:10

Or, He went up in secret, because He did not seek the favour of men, and took no pleasure in pomp, and being followed about with crowds.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 7:22-23

Circumcision was given for three reasons; first, as a sign of Abraham's great faith; secondly, to distinguish the Jews from other nations; thirdly, that the receiving of it on the organ of virility, might admonish us to observe chastity both of body and mind. And circumcision then possessed the same virtue that baptism does now; only that the gate was not yet open. Our Lord concludes: If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at Me because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 7:39

He promised the Holy Spirit to the Apostles before the Ascension; He gave it to them in fiery tongues, after the Ascension. The Evangelist's words, Which they that believe on Him should receive, refer to this.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas