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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 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
Yesterday, we read of the success of the first apostolic mission: they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. Now King Herod heard of Jesus, for His name had become well known. And he said, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." Others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets." But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!" For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom." So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!" Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
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 have returned now from their first mission (see Tuesday's reading, in which we read of Jesus' choosing and conferring power on them, and sending them out). My study bible says that Christ gives rest to His disciples to show those engaged in preaching and teaching that they must not labor continuously, but must also take rest. We note the great concern for healing that accompanies all of these things: their apostolic mission was one of preaching and healing (Jesus had given them power over unclean spirits, and they healed by anointing with oil). Upon their return, Jesus' concern is also for their healing. He takes them to rest, to a deserted place.
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. More emphasis on healing: the people will not leave Jesus alone, their need for what He offers is something they understand. Jesus' compassion in this case is directed toward their lost and directionless state, for they are like sheep without a shepherd. Their need is for His teaching, and this is another part of healing. His teaching is a compassionate response to their need.
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 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. What do we feed those whose need is around us and we seem to have nothing? We start from where we are, and what is at hand. But before that, and at all times, we have Christ with us to whom we turn with what we have. Of course, this is as much a teaching for the apostles or disciples as it is for anyone else. It's also a reflection of the Eucharist: Jesus' blessing of what is on hand -- the five loaves -- and its distribution by the disciples is a picture of what happens in the sacrament. The twelve baskets remain, one for each disciple. It's again an occasion for teaching and healing: and who knows which need is greater? In the distribution of the blessed loaves, the suggestion of Eucharist also reminds us that He is our food. So important is this image that this story appears in all of the Gospels. My study bible suggests that the gathering of leftovers by the apostles shows that the teachings the faithful are unable to grasp are nevertheless held in the consciousness of the Church.
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. Eventually, it is time again to rest -- healing is always a concern, on every level and for every person, and rest is a part of healing. We never forget the facts of human life and the care we need for it. We remember Jesus' teaching, earlier in Mark's Gospel, that "the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Jesus' need is to pray, it is for His communion with the Father, something that is never apart from our story of Christ. If we will, this is His food. See John 4:32-34: "I have food to eat of which you do not know" . . . "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work."
Let us think about feeding, and what that means in the texts of the Gospels. This story is the most pertinent to that consideration. As we've said, it's so central to the gospel message that all four Evangelists write about it. To feed others in a deserted place, without sources for provision, but using whatever is on hand, is to find oneself in need for the sake of others. But there's nothing here that is divorced from the power and person of Christ. It's important that we understand this feeding to be more than merely providing physical nourishment, but working hand in hand with that which ultimately heals: Christ Himself. The reflection of the Eucharist in this portrait of feeding five thousand men (and more women and children) in the deserted place is in the power of healing, feeding, and blessing that is in Christ. His teaching is His first response to the needy crowds, who have followed Him and gained His compassion because they are "like sheep without a shepherd." There are many times in life when I find that what someone needs from me is much more than what they are looking for. We might think that more money will solve a problem we have: "if only" one were in this position or that. But so often we forget how important faith and love are, how important spiritual realities like hope itself are. The cynical will say that this is some kind of rationalization, but the feeding of the 5,000 here in the wilderness is a testimony about the power of Christ to multiply and bless whatever is on hand. It isn't just about physical feeding, but about the wholeness of persons and what many things go into healing our lives, no matter what the problems may be. There are times when I can't deliver a full healing of an illness, or purchase whatever someone else may want for themselves, but I can offer what is and may be distributed through each of us by the power of Christ: I can offer compassion and love, I can offer hope, a word, a kindness, and genuine care. And one would be surprised by the effectiveness of this addition to any situation and how it may start movement toward resolution of a problem. We neglect faith when we think that such a spirit of hope and love cannot help others cope with their problems. Often it may be the one thing necessary to make the connection between what other options are available and the despair over a particular concern. It may be the spark to help adjust a way of thinking that closes off all other considerations but dire need, the one thing necessary to put a situation in the proper perspective. Most of all, Christ adds grace to all things, and the power of prayer can create powerful insights and coping capacities we don't know are available to us or to others. Christ's help may get us thinking about priorities and how exactly we best use what we do have at hand. I would like to suggest, as today's reading does, that all of this is food. All of this is something we can use to feed others in any situation or circumstance. It is up each person to choose whether or not to receive what is available through the power of Christ, but God works with and through all things. A loaf of bread is blessed and bears the mystical person of Christ in the Eucharist, just as Jesus multiplies all that is available in this feeding in the wilderness. We simply don't know what our own spiritual gifts will offer to those in need around us, nor whether or not others are capable of receiving them. But we remember that "with God all things are possible." As a caregiver for an elderly parent, I can say that the power of prayer is the one thing necessary that has helped me to think of resources I might not have found otherwise, to keep going and looking for what will help a problem that overwhelms me when I don't have the answers, and refreshes the mind with a "food" that serves God and gives me the energy to continue to do so as best I can, even in the form of what service I can render to others. It is Christ's healing, nurturing grace that is the great thing necessary, even giving strength to make do with what is on hand, and courage and love to find peace and joy even in the present time of need or "imperfection." It is surprising how that power can help a struggling friend, or anyone you know (even oneself) who may be like a sheep without a shepherd. It is often the one thing I have to offer, but it is the true gift of love. This gift is the fullest basis of healing, for any problem and ailment -- and anything else may be added unto it. It is really the one thing truly and always needed, and so often we overlook it in our blindness to what we are fully and truly all about.
