The Way
A Feast in the Wilderness
Five barley loaves and two fish
Story
The disciples came back from their mission worn out. They crossed by boat toward Bethsaida to a lonely place to rest awhile, but people who had heard the news walked along the shore and got there ahead of them. Jesus had compassion on them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he taught them until the sun was low.
When the disciples suggested sending the crowd away, Jesus' answer took them by surprise. You give them something to eat. The disciples could only look at one another. Philip worked out that even two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough, and all Andrew could find was a boy's five barley loaves and two fish. It was spring, close to Passover, and the grass in the fields was green, and the people sat down on it in groups.
Jesus took the bread, looked up to heaven and gave thanks, then broke it and gave it to his disciples. The bread and the fish passed through the disciples' hands to the people without end. The men alone numbered five thousand, and all ate their fill. When they gathered up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets. When the people came to seize him and make him king by force, Jesus withdrew to the mountain alone.
Walk this scene on the map →His Words
You yourselves give them something to eat.
Come away by yourselves to a quiet place and rest a little while.
Gather up all the leftover pieces, so that nothing is wasted.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Mt 14:13–21 · Mk 6:30–44 · Lk 9:10–17 · Jn 6:1–15
Background
It is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels. Luke names the place as Bethsaida, thought to be near the mouth of the Jordan on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee. John notes that the boy's loaves were barley bread, the food of the poor.
Pause and Reflect
Am I holding back from giving to the Lord because what I have seems small?