You give them something to eat - like sheep without a shepherd

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat." But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?" But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish." Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them, and the two fish He divided among them all. So they all ate and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

- Mark 6:30-46

In yesterday's reading, we read all about King Herod Antipas, and the execution of John the Baptist. Jesus' fame has spread so far at this point in the Gospel of Mark that Herod fears Jesus is John the Baptist, risen from the dead. We were then treated to a flashback - the history of John's execution. On Herod's birthday, he gave a great celebratory banquet and invited all the nobles and "great men" and officers of his court. John was in prison, because he had criticized Herod's marriage to Herodias, calling it unlawful. Herod had a strange relationship with John - he respected and was somewhat awed by his holiness and righteousness, which was widely acknowledged in John's time. He spoke with John when he could and listened to him gladly. But his wife found an opportunity at Herod's birthday banquet. Herod promised Herodias' daughter (Salome) that he would give her anything she wished, after dancing for all at his banquet. Her mother advised the girl, and she returned to the king, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. The apostles' work continues. They have just returned from their first missions - having been sent out two-by-two, and they are reporting back to Jesus. We remember that Jesus has invested His authority in them - given them the ability to cast out unclean spirits. They have also healed the sick using oil for anointing. So we start with a hint of the transformational power of Christ, using ordinary things. We recall the words of Revelation 21:5 - "Behold, I make everything new." But note that Jesus also calls for renewal in another important way -- they must "come away to a deserted place and rest awhile." To be alone with Him is also to renew, and so we remember to take time in solitude for prayer and meditation. This small passage also teaches us once again of Jesus' great fame and popularity: there is so much demand for Him, "so many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat."

But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. So desperate are these people for what Jesus has to offer to them, that they anticipate where Jesus and the apostles are going. They arrive before the boat carrying Jesus and gather together to Him. What a picture we get of great desperation! The image of Jesus' compassion over these people, and the descriptive phrase for the crowd, "like sheep without a shepherd," is a familiar picture of aimlessness, according to the Oxford Annotated Bible. The same expression is found elsewhere in Scripture. They are in need of a leader, a caretaker; it speaks of need on many levels. First, we note, Jesus begins by teaching them "many things." So, we conclude, this is first how they are fed; it is what they truly need as "sheep without a shepherd."

When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat." But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat." The disciples are concerned about provisions - the people must have time to go and provide for themselves. It tells us something about this picture that no one has prepared for the day with food supplies. Certainly this is a remarkable picture of people who know full well what their needs are. Yet, such is the haste to follow Christ that they thought first only of the teaching they need, the leadership. The apostles are so overwhelmed, and so many are coming and going, we have already been told, that they have no time to eat either. This is therefore the last thing on their minds. Everything else needful has taken precedence. We recall the first missions of the apostles, spoken of at the beginning of the passage, which the apostles are eager to share with Jesus. In preparing them for their missions, He told them then to take no provisions for the journey. In a commentary on today's passage, St. John Chrysostom writes, "But mark, I pray you, the Teacher's skill: how distinctly He summons them on towards believing. For He did not say right away, 'I will feed them,' but 'You give to them,' for as yet their view of Him was as a man." We note also that it is the apostles who are concerned for the people - the multitude has said nothing; they are there for Jesus' teaching. Jesus has already invested power and authority with the apostles, and now He extends it yet again: "You give them something to eat."

And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?" But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish." Again, we are given to understand how little anyone has prepared with material goods for this day. All thought has been on teaching and preaching. The twelve apostles themselves don't even have enough for themselves. Jesus will start right where they are, with just what they have. They need no preparation other than their own repentance, their willingness to hear, their openness to His teaching. Chrysostom points out, also, their willingness to give up even the meager supplies they have.

Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them, and the two fish He divided among them all. So they all ate and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. This feeding miracle appears in all four gospels, and therefore we can assume its importance to the early church. Christ begins with whatever they have, and multiplies. It is an image of the Eucharist: whatever there is, it is enough for all. It is a testimony to the divine power of grace and its powers, capacities, potencies: all things are renewed, multiplied, and abundance is distributed. By participating in grace, grace renews us with its qualities and power. (See comments on the word "dynamis" here.) My study bible points out that Christ blesses the loaves, but the disciples distribute them. So it is an image of our participation in the mystical Body of Christ - and how we are fed through the Eucharist which ever expands to meet our needs. My study bible notes, "Jesus' sustenance is never exhausted, just as His eucharistic body, multiplied and distributed, is 'ever eaten and never consumed, sanctifying those who partake'" (from the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom). But note, this power works through us and for us, and is once again given to us in which to share. Again, my study bible has a helpful note: "The disciples learn a great lesson here: whatever they have is enough to feed the people, whether physically or spiritually. God can multiply their resources so that everyone can be filled. But we must participate in His grace."

Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. The feeding miracle is a sign - of the potencies of God, of grace, the presence of the Father, the qualities of renewal and life in abundance. But now it is "immediately" time for His disciples to go to the other side of the sea, and for the multitude to disperse. Finally, we once again are given the signal of renewal: Jesus Himself departs to the mountain to pray. He must have His time of rest and communion with the Father. Again, it is an important understanding for us that we too need this time. No matter what the need is around ourselves, we must rest in God for our own renewal and sustenance. Even Christ Himself sets our example of this!

So, I will ask today, amidst all the demands of your life, even the demands of discipleship, do you take time out for prayer? Do you understand the need that we all have to participate in grace? Without this source and sustenance, our efforts become nothing more than harried works -- good works, possibly, but where then is our participation in grace? Jesus' teaching in this miracle of feeding is not so much of providing food as it is of providing the participation in grace and all of its powers of renewal and abundance. The grace and power of God is invested in us, distributed through us, and multiplies and makes sufficient wherever we are and whatever we have. But without that participation, where are we in this story? Without the teaching and leadership the multitudes are so desperate for, where are we in this story? If we miss that point, we miss the fact that "all else is added" and instead the only thing we see is the feeding. Let us then take note as is appropriate: we rely on God, we rest in God's grace, we are renewed and healed and fed through this faith, this communion and this purpose. And then all else is added. But it is all always a surprise. We are the sheep who need the Shepherd to show us. Rest in that love and communion, and be prepared for anything - any teaching or understanding - to be added unto you. The power of God's grace is among us, but we must be prepared to participate in it first, to recognize our true need.