All Ate And Were Satisfied — Our Lord in a desert place changed a few loaves into many, and at Cana turned water into wine.
Thus before the time came to give men and women His own Body and Blood to feed on, He accustomed their palates to His bread and wine, giving them a taste of transitory bread and wine to teach them to delight in His Life-giving Body and Blood.
He gave them things of little value for nothing to make them understand that His supreme gift would be given yet more freely. He gave them for nothing what they could have bought from Him, what in fact they wanted to buy, to teach them that He asked them for not payment.
When it was not permitted them to give Him the price of bread and wine, which they could have done, they certainly could not pay Him for His Body and Blood.
Moreover, as well as giving freely He lovingly coaxed us, offering us these small things without charge to attract us and cause us to go and receive something greater and beyond all price.
He awakened our desire by things pleasing to the palate in order to draw us to that which gives life to the soul.
He gave a sweet taste to the wine he created to show how great is the treasure hidden in His Life-giving Blood
