How many people have YOU had over for dinner?

Matthew 14:13-21

There are some stories that just don't need a comment. I think this is one of them. Not that it does not need commenting, it's just that it's a straightforward telling of what happened. I always find the version in John much more memorable, and Mark has some little bits that I like, too. But this account in Matthew just tells it like it is. Jesus fed over 5 thousand people with just a few bits of food. It's meant to be striking. It's not normal. But all of the stories that Matthew records show Jesus as anything but normal.
Miracles are a funny thing. I sometimes feel this need to try and justify them. They are outside of what materialists would allow for, and that somehow makes them suspect. But I think Matthew just intends for us to take this at face value. This happened. Period. What you want to do with that is your issue. You can try to explain it away because something like this doesn't fit into your presuppositions. You can accept it as having happened and see Jesus for who He is. Or you can pick a spot in between. Matthew isn't trying to explain anything, and he doesn't add any information for further reflection (like John does).
I like this story, because it's simple. And also because it's not a miracle Jesus had to do. He could have sent everyone away. Most people could probably have fended for themselves. There isn't the same pressing need that you feel in the healings and the demon casting outings. But Jesus could do miracles just to be nice. He wanted to bless these people, and that was enough. It's comforting to think that Jesus wants to bless, even when it's not a pressing need.