A Few Loaves And Fish

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.”

His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd.

They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha. (Mark 8:1-10)

Jesus created something out of “nothing.”  Just a few loaves of bread and a few fish fed 4,000 people looking to satisfy their hunger.  For what do we hunger?  Love?  Respect?  Companionship?  Someone to consider us as special?  Yes, to all those questions.  We all look for something to eat.  

We all may be fragments of who we really can be.  We may not be whole because we need to love and be loved.  Jesus knows this and is moved with pity for us – the crowd. He recognizes our hunger, loneliness, and brokenness and then gives us far more than a few loaves and fish.  He gives us his love and his companionship. 

Deacon David Pierce