Multiplication of the Loaves

Today's Reflections

Multiplication of the Loaves

Jn 6:1-15

¹Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee [of Tiberias]. ²A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. ³Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. ⁴The Jewish feast of Passover was near. ⁵When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” ⁶He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. ⁷Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little [bit].” ⁸One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, ⁹“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”

¹⁰Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. ¹¹Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. ¹²When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” ¹³So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. ¹⁴When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” ¹⁵Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

 

Reflection:
 

Have the people recline. Jesus’ instruction to his disciples reveals a shepherd’s heart. A responsible and compassionate shepherd, he feeds them, multiplying a boy’s five loaves and two fish and satisfying some 5,000 men.

The miraculous feeding of the thousands challenges us to do something for our needy brothers and sisters. 

Get-well-soon cards may be good, but they do not replace actual visits to the sick. Prayers do not make works of mercy and charity unnecessary. And like the boy who gave his all, we do not calculate if we will have more than enough for ourselves before we help others in need. Let us remember that God is never outdone in generosity and that miracles happen when we are willing to share.

I will give up my snacks today,and what I will save from the sacrificeI will give to a poor person.