1 January 2015 - GOSPEL MK 6:34-44

GOSPEL MK 6:34-44

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, "This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat." He said to them in reply, "Give them some food yourselves." But they said to him, "Are we to buy two hundred days' wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?" He asked them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they had found out they said, "Five loaves and two fish." So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish. Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

Reflection:

With a simple blessing, Jesus provides food for five thousand people and there is plenty left over! The multiplication of the loaves and the fish was a beautiful moment in itself, but the implication of the miracle goes beyond the moment and involves two aspects of faith.

First, the multiplication of the loaves and the fish symbolizes the overflowing abundance of God's love for us. Jesus invites his audience – and us - into this abundance, which has its origin in the act of giving, the giving of five loaves and two fish. God takes our gifts and multiplies them a thousandfold in return.

The second sign, in the multiplication of the loaves and the fish, is the Eucharist. Jesus takes bread, breaks it, says a blessing and we are fed for generations. In the Eucharist, Jesus feeds us through the bread and wine that become his Body and Blood – food that quenches all hunger and drink that quenches all thirst.

All that is needed is to bring the gift of ourselves to the table to partake of His bounty.

Jesus loves u. Hv a lovely day wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt love... Fr Robin, Powai💙💐