70. Feeding the 5,000

After returning from their mission, the twelve came to Jesus and told him all they had done and everything they had taught. He said to them, “Come apart with me into a deserted place, and rest awhile.” For there were many coming and going, and the disciples had no time even to eat.

The disciples and Jesus went away in the boat to a deserted place. People saw them going, though, and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before the disciples and came to Jesus. He saw a huge crowd, and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; he began to teach them many things. When it was late in the day, his disciples said, “This place is deserted, and it is late. Send these people away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages, and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat.”

But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.”

They asked him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred day’s wages worth of bread in order to give them something to eat?”

He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go see.”

When they knew, they said, “Five, and two fish.”

He told everyone to sit down in groups on the green grass. They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all. After they all ate and were filled, they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces of bread and fish. Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Reflection

Earlier Jesus had said he only could do what God does. The Hebrew Scriptures tell of God providing manna (bread-like food) in the wilderness, and other stories of God miraculously providing for his people. Has God ever met your needs in a situation that seemed hopeless? Have you ever told someone the story of what God did for you? 

Prayer: When situations look hopeless, Lord, help me trust you to find a way through.