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Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When 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?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus 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. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
Reflection
There are many teachings in today’s Gospel reading. The passage begins by telling us that the people followed Jesus because “They saw the signs he was performing on the sick.” It seems to me that the writer supposes that the people are following Jesus in order to get something from him. As in last week’s Gospel Jesus immediately has compassion on these followers and their needs. In last week’s Gospel Jesus gave the people his teaching; in this week’s reading, Jesus seems to be concerned about their physical needs, their hunger. He asks his disciples to help — “where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”
As Jesus does throughout his life, he is demonstrating an image of his Abba, our God. That is what Jesus is all about — giving without counting the cost. What lessons in charity Jesus provides.
Jesus SAW the crowd — we are also invited to truly “see” others and be aware of what God is calling us to be or to do.
Jesus SAT DOWN with them — there are many ways that we can show our love and concern — with our time, our resources, our presence.
Jesus GAVE over and above and he engaged others in his giving — a lesson for all of us!
Action
Calls for generosity come to us all the time. I pray that I don’t become hardened to the needs of others. Join me in this prayer as we all try daily to imitate our ever-giving God.
Marilyn Webb is a Providence Associate. She graduated from a Sisters of Providence high school in Indianapolis and from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. She is retired and enjoys volunteering. Marilyn frequently volunteers as a docent at the Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin. She also is involved in teaching Centering Prayer and in serving in leadership for Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. and the Association of Contemplative Sisters.
Thank you, Marilyn. I love this story. And it was brought home even more for me from the book by Megan McKenna, Not Counting Women and Children: Neglected Stories from the Bible, where she talked about there were no doubt women and children among the 5,000.
Yes, we need to see those around us, and sit with them especially in these divisive times.
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Thank you, Marilyn. I love this story. And it was brought home even more for me from the book by Megan McKenna, Not Counting Women and Children: Neglected Stories from the Bible, where she talked about there were no doubt women and children among the 5,000.
Yes, we need to see those around us, and sit with them especially in these divisive times.