There’s a true story made into a book and later into a movie, entitled “Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors” by Piers Paul Read.

It relates about how 16 people who survived after their plane crashed in the rugged, snow-treacherous Andes Mountains in 1972. Within the 71-day ordeal, when the men ran out of food supply, they had to eat part of their clothes and rubber shoes. And when that too ran out, they had to eat the flesh of their dead companions!

They were finally rescued when two of their companions ventured to hike out for 10 days in search of help.

This true story conveys dramatically the human necessity for food. “You eat in order to live,” goes a dictum. There are some, however, who live in order to eat.

Tomorrow is the Feast of Corpus Christi (Body of Christ). The gospel episode on the multiplication of bread and fishes underscores the necessity of food for the famished crowd that had been doggedly following Christ.

The Lord had to perform a miracle in order to satisfy the physical hunger of the people.

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Lesson on sharing. There is one important insight we can learn from the episode. Note that the Jews had very limited provision: Five loaves of bread and two fishes. The disciples realizing this said the people should take care of their own food since “it’s impossible to feed so many.” Still Jesus told them to give what they had.

The object lesson is: We don’t have to be rich in order to show compassion.

Remember that poor widow who despite her being destitute could still drop some precious coins in the temple treasury and how the Lord highly praised her? (Read Mk 12,38-44).

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Finally, while it's true that Jesus worked the miracle out of a motive of compassion for the crowd, his concern went deeper than their need for physical nourishment. His miracle was a “sign,” something that points to a deeper reality.

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We may satisfy our sense appetites of eating and drinking, but we will always end up discontented and there’s always something missing.

Why? Because only God can satisfy our deepest longings. And that’s why Jesus in the Last Supper blessed and shared the bread and wine, saying, “This is My Body, this is My Blood.” Then the Lord said, “Do this in memory of Me.” (Lk 22,19-20).

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That’s why St. Augustine who experienced virtually all life’s pleasures, from intellectual to carnal, could truly say: “Lord, we are made for Thee. And our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

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In the spirit of sharing, which is one of the practical messages of the feast of Corpus Christi, donate any amount or sponsor a seminarian's schooling for one school year. Email: [email protected].