One of the most remarkable instances of God's spiritual provision is to be found in the incident of the feeding of the five thousand as related in the Gospels. This wonderful proof of divine abundance, coming as it did through Jesus the Christ, forms an object lesson for those who would more fully understand God's affluence. The Gospel narrative has sometimes been used in connection with metaphysical work for a Christian Science lecture. Its application is far reaching, and each time it is studied and applied, it brings renewed help and inspiration in a variety of circumstances.
In this incident, as in others recorded in the Bible, three factors are present: namely, the Christ, the disciples, and the multitude. Are not these three factors present to some extent in every Christian Science lecture? First there is Truth, the spiritual nourishment. The fruit of the Spirit is found in the Christ, ever present in infinite abundance because it springs from a spiritual and therefore unlimited source. The lecturer and the membership of the branch church giving the lecture might be said to constitute the second factor represented in the Bible by the disciples; and this is an important factor, because it deals with our individual part in the work. It is the lecturer's part to prepare and deliver the lecture, and it is the members' privilege also to do metaphysical work and to carry out all the necessary arrangements in a thoughtful and competent manner. The third factor may be the audience, those waiting patiently and expectantly for the water of Life, the bread of Truth, and the inspiration of Love.
Perhaps at this point it may be well to examine some of the suggestions that come to one when doing metaphysical work for a Christian Science lecture. At first some may feel their knowledge of the Christ is inadequate to feed so many. This was the temptation that assailed the disciples in the wilderness. They saw only five loaves and two fishes. They were aware of approaching darkness, a weary crowd, and a desolate wilderness. But this human sense of dearth came from their material outlook of limitation.
