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

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 awhile." 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 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

Yesterday, we read about John the Baptist. King Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee, has heard of Jesus' great fame, and believes that He may be John the Baptist returned. The reading gave us the reasons for this, about the beheading of John the Baptist in Herod's court, through the request of his wife, Herodias', daughter. See 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. We recall that the apostles have just been sent out on their first mission. The twelve were first disciples, living with Jesus and learning from Him. My study bible says that the word "apostle" is found frequently in the epistles but is rare in the gospels. It means "one who is sent" -- my study bible says, "It designates an official representative authorized to carry our a specific mission."

And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile." 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. Having just returned from their great first challenge, Jesus invites the disciples to rest. Always, in the gospels, we read of the need for rest, relaxation, rejuvenation (especially through prayer in solitude). The same can be said for each of us when we take time out for prayer and relaxation, and follow this great example of intimate solitude with the Lord.

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. Everywhere He goes, Christ is mobbed. The people, in this picture in Mark's gospel, are desperate for what He has to offer. They are like "sheep without a shepherd," and they evoke compassion in Christ. Their vulnerability stirs in Him, we note, compassion, love. To a "worldly" sense of power such vulnerability means something else. Mark's gospel has been showing us the clear differences between Jesus' Kingdom and the one of the "ruler of this world" -- here is a clear instance of Jesus' response to the "lost sheep." What is it that these sheep not having a shepherd need? They need His teaching, and this He gives to them, freely.

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." Instead of the rest and solitude they wanted, the disciples are now challenged to meet a new demand, "You give them something to eat." Jesus will take this encounter in the wilderness one step further, and teach His apostles yet more about their missions in the process.

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. We are reminded here of the parables about the Kingdom that Jesus has given us in this Gospel. Those of the lampstand, the harvest and especially the mustard seed come to mind. Wherever they are, they start with what they have. This is what Jesus has done in His ministry, what He teaches the apostles in this reading, and what He teaches to us.

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 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. In what is clearly a prefiguring of the Eucharist, Jesus blesses and breaks the loaves, while His disciples distribute. It is a clear messianic sign. The bread in the wilderness reminds us of God's feeding of the Israelites with manna, the twelve baskets left over symbolize not only the Apostles but also the twelve tribes of Israel. 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). It adds, "the disciples learn a great lesson here: whatever they have is enough to feed the people, whether physically or spiritually. God can multiply our resources so that everyone can be filled. But we must participate in His grace: Christ, along with the Father, blesses the loaves, but the disciples distribute them." The figure of five thousand men indicates only the number of men (a cultural custom) -- certainly women and children were also present.

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. This story is framed in the need for rest, solitude, and prayer, like two parentheses on either side of this great messianic sign. The work continues, and Jesus will follow them once again to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. The multitudes are sent away. But Jesus goes to the mountain to pray. We should remember and do likewise!

The feeding of the five thousand men is an extraordinary sign in the Gospels. We note the twelve baskets of fragments left over -- there is more for each Apostle, to continue the mission of feeding. And although these "sheep not having a shepherd" are first of all taught, because this is what they need, they are also fed -- and so are we. Feeding is a great image not only of filling our needs but also the very closeness and intimacy of what it is to share a life with Christ. He is not merely a close and intimate companion, but becomes a very part of us, part of our being, and shares everything with us by grace. So let us consider what it is to have this faith, to share it in prayer, in intimate moments, to take the Eucharist and participate in sacraments and in worship. Altogether, it is a journey of great and growing intimacy, where we become part and parcel of one another. Christ feeds us with our "daily bread" -- something more than merely the bread of this world, but also His life added to us. He is the bread of life, and the life in the power of His Resurrection also feeds us, nurtures us, and by grace is shared within us, in the deepest part of who we are. Let us consider, then, those moments of rest in prayer, and how necessary they are to all things, and follow His great example. Do you ever feel lost, like a sheep not having a shepherd? Go where He teaches us to go, to prayer, to the sacraments, to the great gifts He has given to transform our world with His Life. And remember His disciples through whom they may come as well. He is here to bring His Kingdom into the world; it is a Kingdom of love and compassion and nurturing, in which we can all share and participate -- and which does its transforming work in us and our world as well.