How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?

 

 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar."  Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?"  He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.  They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them.  So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.  Now those who had eaten were about four thousand.  And He sent them away, immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

 

- Mark 8:1–10 

 

Yesterday we read that, after a disagreement with the Pharisees, Jesus arose and went to the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon.  And He entered into a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.  For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.  The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.  But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs."  Then He said to her, "For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter."  And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed. Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.  Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him.  And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.  Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."  Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.  Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.  And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well.  He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak." 

 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar."  Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?"  He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.  They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them.  So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.  Now those who had eaten were about four thousand.  And He sent them away, immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.  This is the second feeding of a multitude in the Gospels.  My study Bible says it should not be confused with the first (see this reading), for they are two distinct miracles.  There is a significance in the variance of the number of loaves, it says.  In the first feeding miracle, there were five loaves, which symbolizes the Law.  But here there are seven.  Seven is a symbol of completeness, and here it indicates spiritual perfection.  So, in the first feeding miracle of the five thousand, Jesus reveals Himself as fulfilling the Law.  But here is, in some sense, the New Covenant, as Christ is shown to be the One who grants spiritual perfection.  We must note also that the crowds have continued with Him for three days; this number is clearly significant as the number of days Christ would rest in the tomb prior to the Resurrection.  My study Bible comments that participation in Christ's perfection can only come through being united to His death (see Romans 6:3-5). 

Why two feeding miracles in the wilderness?  As my study Bible explains, these are clearly two distinct miracles, meant to be included in the Gospels.  One clear explanation seems to be in the symbolism noted by my study Bible.  In the first miracle, there was the exposition of the fulfillment of the Law in Christ.  Perhaps we should note that just as He distributes fish and bread, He is also the Lord, the giver of the Law of the Old Testament.  In today's reading, He repeats this giving and distribution, but of something new.  Four thousand is a number that indicates the whole world, or perhaps the whole universe, as four is a number symbolizing the four directions, and the four points of the Cross.  This is the New Covenant being giving to all, and both Gentile and Jew, for which Christ will lay in the tomb three days before His Resurrection.  The number seven, as my study Bible points out, is an indication of completeness.  This is the spiritual perfection, the granting of that eternal life of the Resurrection in which we may participate also, through the life, death, and Resurrection of Christ.  It is He who makes this possible for us, and we take life from His hand, so to speak, in the distribution of the Eucharist, the memorial of His sacrifice to make this abundant life possible for us.  So while the first feeding miracle reminds us of the Covenant given to the Jews, and the feeding in the wilderness as they journeyed to the Promised Land, this second miracle is the giving of the New Covenant, as we journey in faith toward a different promised land, and the life of the Kingdom.  We "continue with Him" taking in His teachings, and relying upon Him to provide what we need for the life He offers.  Let us remember to do just that, to continue with Him, to endure in faith, even through the difficulties we encounter in life.  For this is where He asks us to go, and how He asks us to walk with Him and to grow more dependent upon Him.  He is the One who feeds us what we need, and multiplies His blessings, grace, and teachings as we need them.

I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat

 

 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there.  Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them.  So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. 

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."  Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?"  Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.  So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.  Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.  And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.

 

- Matthew 15:29-39 

 

Yesterday we read that, after an encounter with Pharisees and scribes who came from Jerusalem, Jesus went out from there and departed to the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is severely demon-possessed."  But He answered her not a word.  And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."  But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"  But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."  Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be to you as you desire."  And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

 

  Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there.  Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them.  So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.  My study Bible comments here that Christ's healing of the multitudes in this passage shows that these Jews actually had less faith than the Canaanite woman in yesterday's reading, above.  According to St. John Chrysostom's commentary, Christ healed the Canaanite woman "with much delay, but these immediately, because she is more faithful than they.  He delays with her to reveal her perseverance, while here He bestows the gift immediately to stop the mouths of the unbelieving Jews."

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."  Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?"  Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.  So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.  Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.  And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.  My study Bible reminds us that this second feeding of a multitude should not be confused with the first (see this reading), as they are two distinct miracles.  There is a variance in the number of loaves that is symbolically significant.  In the first feeding of five thousand, there were five loaves which symbolize the Law (the Torah or Pentateuch, meaning "five books").  Here there are seven.  Seven is a number which symbolizes completeness or fullness, and here, it indicates spiritual perfection, according to my study Bible.  So, in the first feeding, Christ reveals Himself as fulfilling the Law, but here He shows that it is He who grants spiritual perfection.  My study Bible also asks us to note that these crowds had been with Christ for three days, which is the number of days He will rest in the tomb.  It says that participation in Christ's perfection can only come through being united to Christ's death (see Romans 6:3-5).  

In a certain way, we might view today's feeding of four thousand men (and more women and children) as a kind of comment on the expansion of the kingdom of God through Christ's ministry to the Gentiles.  Coming just after the report of Christ's encounter with the Canaanite woman in yesterday's reading, in some sense the symbolism of the numbers which my study Bible commented on affirms the fullness of this ministry going out to the whole world, the continuation and extension of Christ's saving mission toward not only "the lost sheep of the house of Israel," but also to Gentiles.  In this is the fullness commented on by my study Bible, and hidden in the symbolism of the seven loaves.  But there is also the number four thousand.  In the previous feeding miracle, there were not only five loaves, symbolizing the Law, but also five thousand men (and more women and children) fed.  This number five in this case may easily symbolize change:  a great change coming into the world, Christ's ministry bringing something entirely new and unknown in the Incarnation of the Son.  But four thousand has at its root the number four, symbolizing the four directions of the globe, and perhaps more importantly the four arms of the Cross; in this we can see Christ as Son of Man, Savior to the whole world, and not just to the Jews.  It reminds us what a tremendous breakthrough it is in terms of spiritual history and revelation that He is now understood as Messiah by Gentiles, and has extended His grace to Gentiles as well as Jews.  The God of Israel has acted now through grace to gather in all who will come by faith, Gentiles becoming thereby "sons of Abraham" by virtue of faith in the promise to Abraham.   As St. Paul writes, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:26-29).  Let us be grateful for the revelation of Christ.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel

 

 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there.  Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them.  So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."  Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?"  Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.  So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.  Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.  And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.

 

- Matthew 15:29-39 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus went out from the place where He disputed with the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, and departed too the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is severely demon-possessed."  But He answered her not a word.  And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."  But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"  But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."  Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be to you as you desire."  And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

 

  Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there.  Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them.  So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.  My study Bible comments that Christ's healing of the multitudes here shows that these Jews actually had less faith than the Canaanite woman of yesterday's reading, above.  According to St. John Chrysostom, Christ healed the woman "with much delay, but these immediately, because she is more faithful than they.  He delays with her to reveal her perseverance, while here He bestows the gift immediately to stop the mouths of the unbelieving Jews."  Let us also note that this outpouring of God's grace and power, manifesting in marvelous varieties of healing, is a kind of affirmation of Christ in the face of the scrutiny and criticisms of the religious leaders in Monday's reading.

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."  Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?"  Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.  So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.  Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.  And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.  My study Bible comments that this second feeding of a multitude should not be confused with the first (see this reading), for they are two distinct miracles (see Matthew 16:8-10, in which Jesus refers to each).  There are distinctive differences in specific details.  My study Bible first suggests that the variance in the number of loaves is significant.  In the first instance, there were five loaves, which symbolize the Law, while here there are seven.  Seven is a symbol of completeness, and here indicates spiritual perfection.  So in the first feeding Christ revealed Himself as fulfilling the Law, while here in today's reading He shows that it is He who grants spiritual perfection.  Also, these crowds had been with Jesus for three days.  That is the number of days which He would rest in the tomb.  My study Bible comments that participation in His perfection can only come through being united to Christ's death (see Romans 6:3-5).  

Some comment that, as Jesus has gone to the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon (for the healing of the Canaanite woman's daughter in yesterday's reading), and in today's reading seems to be in a region of mixed populations, the healings and feeding in today's reading suggest the evolving understanding of spiritual perfection as belonging to all people, and that the salvation that is of the Jews (John 4:22) is destined for all the nations through Christ (Isaiah 49:6).  As mentioned above, we can also look at this outpouring of blessings and manifestations of God's power and activity in the world as a kind of affirmation or proof of Christ's ministry:  the flowering of such creativity and miracles -- both in healing and in feeding the people -- is an affirmation which manifests among the faithful.  But it will not be so for the religious leaders, whose blindness Jesus has recently commented on (in Monday's reading, He called them "the blind leaders of the blind").  It is an affirmation to us that the things which move us to our faith, which serve to dig us more deeply into our faith, which go unobserved and unnoticed by others, are nonetheless powerful and important.  So often it seems that the things that guide us to our own deepening faith are things to which others are impervious and imperceptive, and maybe that is just the way it's meant to be, the nature of the things of faith.  That certainly seems to be the story in the Gospels, where it is often only later in hindsight that people realize the value and power in the outcome of faith.  Even the disciples will be slow in understanding, such as the two who traveled on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).  It is in the personal glimmers of insight that faith grows, and enlightenment of the heart that tinges the mind and brings about conviction and deeper understanding, and these things are often nearly impossible to explain.  Certainly to those who do not share the experience, communication of such is seemingly impossible.  So, at this stage of Christ's ministry, the beginnings of the attention and scrutiny of the establishment are beginning to bear down on Him, and to criticize His ministry.  Herod Antipas has begun to be afraid of Him and His powers (that He is, in fact, John the Baptist raised from the dead) -- see this reading.  The scribes and Pharisees have also come from Jerusalem to question and criticize (Monday's reading), and in tomorrow's reading they and those of their fellow ruling party in the Council (the Sadducees) will together begin to demand proofs from Jesus, "a sign from heaven."  But faith does not come from proofs on demand, nor does it entertain to choose to provide them.  Faith comes through quiet revelation, in secluded corners of sudden light, illuminations of the interior heart -- and not with gigantic spectacle.  For that, we await Christ's return which will only signal sudden judgment (Matthew 24:30-31).  But for those of faith, we must be content with what we understand that comes upon us in ways we can't calculate nor knowingly predict, for this is the way that faith works.  We can pray, and participate in worship, study the Scriptures, and strengthen our discipleship and encourage others, but that is all we can do to bring other people to faith, save to live in such a way as to glorify God (Matthew 5:16).    Let us be assured in our journeys of faith, and in the quiet strength we sometimes surprisingly receive (Nehemiah 8:10, also part of today's lectionary reading).

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat

 

 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there.  Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them.  So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."  Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?"  Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.  So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.  Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.  And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.

 

- Matthew 15:29-39 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus departed to the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is severely demon-possessed."  But He answered her not a word.  And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."  But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"  But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."  Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be to you as you desire."  And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

 

Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there.  Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them.  So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.  My study Bible comments that Christ's healing of the multitudes here shows that these Jews actually had less faith than the Canaanite woman (of yesterday's reading; see above).  St. John Chrysostom notes that Christ healed that woman's daughter "with much delay, but these immediately, because she is more faithful than they.  He delays with her to reveal her perseverance, while here He bestows the gift immediately to stop the mouths of the unbelieving Jews."

 

 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."  Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?"  Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.  So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.  Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.  And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.   Jesus has already fed a multitude in Matthew 14:22-33.  That feeding was for a crowd of five thousand men and more women and children.  Here, there are four thousand men, besides women and children.  So these are separate and distinct miracles.  My study Bible comments that the variance in the number of loaves is significant.  In the first feeding, there were five loaves, which symbolizes the Law.  Here, there are seven.  Seven symbolizes completeness, a fullness -- here it indicates spiritual perfection.  So, in the first instance, Christ revealed Himself as fulfilling the Law, while here He shows that it is He who grants spiritual perfection.  My study Bible also notes that these crowds had been with Christ for three days, the number of days that He will rest in the tomb.  It says that participation in Christ's perfection can only come through being united to His death (see Romans 6:3-5). 

 

What do we feed ourselves with?  Jesus calls Himself the bread of heaven, and the "bread of God" (John 6:33, 50-51).  When we take the Eucharist, from the earliest times of the Church it was understood that we feed ourselves with Him (John 6:51-56).  So the notion of food, and of feeding, is central to our faith and our concepts of our faith in Christ, as offered to us by Him.  These separate feeding miracles of the five thousand and four thousand are central to the Gospels.  They are images of God from the Old Testament, who fed the Israelites as they followed Moses in the wilderness, going (or we might even say meandering) toward the Promised Land.  The "bread from heaven" of the Old Testament (Exodus 6) is a landmark event, and so are these two feedings by Jesus in the wilderness.  The first (Matthew 14:13-21) took place among a distinctly Jewish population, and has overtones (as explained in the notes from my study Bible quoted above) of the Torah, the giving of the Law.  The miracle in today's reading takes place after Jesus has praised the faith of a Canaanite woman (see yesterday's reading, above), and in a region of mixed populations of Gentiles and Jews (although those who follow Jesus we presume are Jews).  But the numbers, as my study Bible noted above, suggest more symbolism and meaning.  There is first of all the seven loaves, and seven has been explained as a number of fullness or completion.   There is also the number four thousand, a large number based on four which suggests the four points of the compass, all the world -- and also the four points of the Cross, which will go out to the world.  When we put these meanings together, we should think of the understanding that there is one place where we go which can feed the entire world, one Person to whom we turn who can give us the bread of heaven that is meant for all people.  There is One who can serve a world with the completeness of what spiritual perfection is and means -- and who may continue to offer that to all people.  There is One in whom we find that fullness, for -- as He has said in speaking of Himself as the bread of heaven -- He has given His flesh for the life of the world (John 6:33, 51), and He continues to give us the true food for the life of the world.  Because His is completion, perfection, an "end" which means that absolutely all things are included, His work continues and His food continues to feed us, for He is the beginning and the end, who is and was and is to come (Revelation 1:8).  His is the perfection we seek, the place we go in our need.  In a consumerist world, in which we are offered so many choices of what we will consume --  what news, what entertainment, what beliefs, what slogans, what information, what politics, what attitudes, and all manner of mores, ethics, values -- let us be discerning about what it is we choose to take in, what it is we feed on.  Christ has already offered us Himself, and He keeps on giving.   He should be our first stop, the One from whom we are guided through all the rest of what we think we need, and what really nurtures our lives.  He is our compassionate Savior, who loves us enough to give His life for us, and for the world. 

 

 

 

How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?

 

 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar."  Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?"  He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.  They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them.  So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.  Now those who had eaten were about four thousand.  And He sent them away, immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

 

- Mark 8:1-10 

 

Yesterday we read that, after a dispute with the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem, Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.  For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.  The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.  But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs."  Then He said to her, "For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter."  And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.  Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.  Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and who had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on them.  And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.  Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."  Immediately his ears were opened, and this impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.  Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.  And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well.  He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

 

  In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar."  Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?"  He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.  They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them.  So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.  Now those who had eaten were about four thousand.  And He sent them away, immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.  We have already read that Jesus fed a multitude of five thousand men (and more women and children) in this reading from Thursday of last week.  This is a second feeding of a multitude which should not be confused with the first.  They are two distinct miracles in the Gospels.  My study Bible comments that there is a significance in the variance of the number of loaves.  In the first feeding miracle, there were five loaves, which symbolizes the Law (for the Five Books, the Penteteuch or Torah).  But here there are seven.  Seven is a number which symbolizes completeness; here it signifies spiritual perfection.  So therefore, in the first instance, Christ reveals Himself as fulfilling the Law, while here He shows that it is He who grants spiritual perfection.  My study Bible asks us to note also that these crowds had been with Christ for three days, the same number of days that He would rest in the tomb.  Participation in His perfection can only come through being united to Christ's death (see Romans 6:3-5). 

 

 There are some other things we need to note about today's reading in addition to the ideas which my study Bible offers.   Mark's Gospel has just reported to us two significant events of Jesus' ministry which took place in what is Gentile territory.   In yesterday's reading (see above), we read about the Syro-Phoenician woman who begged Christ to cast the demon from her daughter, and then in the Decapolis, he healed a deaf and mute man, "opening" his ears, and "loosing" his tongue.   In today's reading, we can presume that this event takes place in what is nominally Gentile territory; that is, it is likely a region still on the east side of the Sea of Galilee.  (We're told in the end of the reading that Jesus and the disciples sailed to Dalmanutha, likely just opposite to the place where this feeding took place, in lower Galilee, and so closer to home territory for Jesus.)  In light of the Gentile influence which would be present (even if those who follow Him are Jews), we can look at the number four thousand and see its correlation with the wider world.  The number four signifies the four points of the compass, the four directions; magnified by one thousand, it tells us of the great multitudes of the world.  While Jesus is sent first to the Jews, also instructing the disciples to do the same (Matthew 10:6, 15:24), and "salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22), the text seems to open up the ways that Christ (or rather, His word and gospel) will eventually go out to the whole world.  The number seven in the amount of the loaves, in this respect, is significant, as my study Bible says it signifies spiritual perfection, as contrasted to the five loaves representing the Law in the feeding in Jewish territory.  "Spiritual perfection" would indicate that regardless of where the gospel message goes, Christ's spiritual teaching will bring all to perfection, whether that be those who begin with the understanding, for example, of the Hellenistic world of the philosophers and pagan myths of the Greeks and Greek-speakers, or out to the world beyond.  In whatever place, beginning with any spiritual tradition, it is Christ who will bring understanding and spiritual perfection out of the cultural concepts and practices which people already know.  While the Jews already have Jewish spiritual history, and know and understand the Lord through their Scripture, whatever is true or good or beautiful in other traditions will be brought to spiritual perfection through Christ's message and teachings as the gospel is carried to the world.  He has said that He has come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17), and most certainly He is the One about whom they testify (John 1:45), but Christ is also the Lord of all -- God of gods, King of kings, Lord of lords (Deuteronomy 10:17; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14, 19:16).  Let us note that for these people also, Christ says, "I have compassion on the multitude," just as He had compassion on the previous five thousand who had followed Him into the wilderness from His home territory in Thursday's reading of last week.   The whole world needs His compassion, and this has never been more true, and will always remain so.  In the Psalms we read the people's question, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness?"  (Psalm 78:19).  In today's reading, we learn that what Jesus offers is food for the world (John 6:51), for all in their own wilderness.

 

 

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

 

 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 

 

Yesterday we read that, on their first apostolic mission mission, the twelve cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.  Now King Herod heard of Him, 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.   This verse continues from Tuesday's reading, in which the twelve have just been sent out on their first apostolic mission. 

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.  My study bible comments here that Christ gives rest to His disciples in order to show those engaged in preaching and teaching that they must not labor continuously, but must also take rest.  It also teaches us, generally speaking, about our individual lives as Christ's followers.  We need periods of activity and also reflection.  Our way is a median way, not merely an ideological or philosophical one, but one that understands our full humanity, and is organic to all that we are:  body, soul, and spirit.

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.  Let us look at Jesus' response to the multitudes.  They clearly are seeking something from Jesus in a deeply heartfelt way, out of real need.  Jesus understands them through His compassion for them, and sees that they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  Let us note Christ's immediate response to their real need.  It is to fill them with spiritual food:  He began to teach them many things.  My study bible pays special attention to the phrase "moved with compassion."  It is used frequently concerning Jesus (Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 20:34; Mark 1:41, Luke 7:13), showing that Christ's power and authority are extended to those who suffer.

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.  This miracle in the wilderness is reported by all four evangelists.  My study bible comments that it shows Jesus feeding a great multitude of His people just as He (as the Lord) fed the Israelites in the desert (see Exodus 16).  The Patristic fathers see in this an image of the Eucharist, which is especially clear in John 6.  There is also a traditional spiritual interpretation to this miracle, in which the five loaves indicate the five books of the Law or Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which are broken open in Christ, and thereby feed the universe.  The two fish represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle Book, which constitute the teaching of the fishermen.  The gathering up of the leftovers by the apostles (twelve baskets) shows that the teaching which the faithful cannot grasp are nevertheless kept 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.   Does Jesus stay to be acclaimed as king by the multitudes He has just fed in the wilderness?  No, instead His concern is for His mission and what He needs to do.  The disciples are sent back across the Sea of Galilee, while He Himself departed to the mountain to pray.  Once again, we should all learn and take seriously His example of constant communion with the Father, freed of distractions.

Let us take up Jesus' first task that He appears to fulfill in today's reading, and which He fulfills because He is moved with compassion.  It is noteworthy that this task is not feeding thousands of people in the wilderness.  It is not to listen to whatever complaints they have, and it's not even to physically heal them.  Jesus' first task, the need to which He responds in today's reading, is to address -- out of His compassion on them -- the state of these people being "like sheep not having a shepherd."  It is this dire condition He addresses, and the healing medicine that they need, and which He uses, is to teach them many things.  Their real need -- the true way to address and to fill the needs of these lost sheep -- is for wisdom, and specifically the wisdom and teachings of Christ.  For what these people truly lack is leadership that really cares about them, and which is capable of perceiving the real need they have and fulfilling that need.  People need leadership in the form of good teachings, things by which they can live good lives, truth in which they can trust -- and especially those good things which come from the One who loves them.  Jesus will give it to them straight, and not just pander to whatever it is they might think they want or need.  He truly heals with His leadership.  The last thing Jesus does is play to the crowd, for the very last thing for which He pursues His ministry is popularity.  One gets the feeling that His real joy comes from fulfilling the will of the Father, and hence He engages in His public ministry and His walk toward the Cross and the powerful meaning that will bring as part of the fabric of this world.  But in terms of His personal happiness, that notion of what might give some peace in the moment,  one wonders if the life of the carpenter from Nazareth wasn't far easier.  But Jesus' real mission to us is leadership, and to show us the most exemplary model of what that is.  So here, He both perceives and fulfills the real need of these people who've followed Him into the wilderness, even as He tried to withdraw with the twelve to hear about their first apostolic mission.  Jesus is moved with compassion as He detects that this crowd's need is for a good shepherd (John 10:11-16).  As that good shepherd, the first thing with which He feeds them is to teach them many things.  This is what a geniune good leader does.  He gives direction and guidance, giving the sheep what they need to live good lives.  It is only as the day progresses, and all are there without resources for food, that the occasion arises for the miracle of feeding in the wilderness, mirroring the action of the Lord in the Old Testament.  When this happens, one must think in terms of "fulfillment" in the sense of Christ's saying, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17).  And it follows in as extention of feeding the multitude by teaching them many things.  It figuratively places the Eucharist, by extension, into the place of filling us with good things, including the fullness of Christ which incorporates His word and teachings, as well as Himself as the Word or Logos.  It's important that we don't lose sight of all of these realities, and especially that to be filled and given the good things we need isn't simply to have our physical needs met.  Our very human needs consist also of that which feeds soul and spirit, and especially our communion with God, for without that our worldly lives are empty in ways we will search to fulfill until we find the true food of the shepherd for the sheep.  He is that food, the living bread of life, the food for everlasting life.

You give them something to eat

 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

Yesterday we read that at this point in Jesus' ministry, King Herod heard of Him, 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.  My study bible says that Christ gives rest to the disciples to show those engaged in preaching and teaching that they must not labor continuously, but must also take rest.  We remember that the apostles have returned from their first apostolic journey, on which they were sent out two by two (see Saturday's reading).   The picture is clear:  by now Jesus' ministry has become so popular that He must get away to a deserted place in order to rest a while.

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.  The compelling presence of Christ is remarkable to read about.  The multitudes follow Him, and we're given the proper reason, despite all that we might think:  they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  This simple statement expresses our profound need for Christ.  Let us note how Christ responds both to their need and to His own compassion for them:  He began to teach them many things.  It reminds us of one of His beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount:  "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).  Moved with compassion is a phrase frequently used to to describe our Lord (see also Matthew 14:14, 20:34; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13).  In the Greek, it indicates an interior state of profound affect.  My study bible says that it shows His power and authority are extended to those who suffer.

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."   Once again, the Gospel gives us a full day in the ministry of Christ, suggesting strongly the witness testimony that makes up what we know of Jesus' ministry. 

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."  One spiritual interpretation found in tradition teaches that the five loaves indicate the first five books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which my study bible says are broken open in Christ and thus feed the universe.  The two fish represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle Book, the teaching of the fishermen.  In this understanding, the gathering of the fragments by the apostles (verse 43) shows that the teachings which the faithful are presently unable to grasp are still held in the consciousness of the Church. 

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.   There is a clear prefiguration here of the Eucharist, especially in that Christ looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves.  Note also how they are distributed by the disciples.  My study bible comments that Christ shows us that we should never eat without first giving thanks to God.  Note that the word Eucharist comes directly from the Greek word for thanks.  The twelve baskets that are leftover is another image of the Eucharist which stands for all of Christ's gifts and grace, to be distributed by the apostles and their descendants in 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.   Again, we're given the fullness of a day in Christ's ministry, as He sends the disciples once again across the Sea of Galilee.  In other readings, we've been taught that He rose very early in the morning to pray (Mark 1:35); here at the close of this remarkable day, after sending all away, Jesus departed to the mountain to pray.

It may seem like a kind of detail, but we should take a closer look at Jesus' statement, "You give them something to eat."  This clearly comes as a surprise to the apostles, who have no idea how they could possibly feed so many people in the wilderness with whatever they might have brought with them.  This was not a planned event, as the people had simply followed Jesus and the disciples in their desire and need for Christ.  No one had planned a meal for a crowd of people in the wilderness, and the people came spontaneously after Christ.  The Gospels tell us there were five thousand men, and this is a typical mode of counting for the period.  Tradition tells us there were yet more women and children present as well.  But, "You give them something to eat" is a command we also must pay close attention to.  It seems to suggest to the disciples and all of us who follow in the Church that it is we who must be prepared to help feed those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.  What we notice, once again, is that these people need the teachings that Christ has to offer them, His guidance and instruction, because they are like sheep without a shepherd.  Well, just about everywhere we look around ourselves, we may see all kinds of people who are like sheep without a shepherd.  We live in a world in which it seems ever more prevalent that children are not given what is necessary for strong character in the face of adversity, for making good decisions in the face of temptation.   Traditional systems for instruction and discipline are breaking down, and cycles of poverty, violence, war, upheaval further break down the social structures that keep people and families intact, with a special impact on growing children.  Christ's command seems to me to suggest not simply caring for the material needs of others, but of being prepared as faithful to help those who have deeper needs than simply for food.  There is no doubt of the Eucharistic significance of this miracle of feeding in the wilderness.  What Jesus seems to suggest to all of us is that the deepest need for hospitality as a profound social calling is for the care of the love and grace of God, and that we as Christ's disciples are capable of sharing this with others and assuring them of this grace of the Incarnation -- that it is something we have and know and may distribute to those who might find themselves somewhere "out in the wilderness" with us.  I don't think the profound need we all have, as those who may also find we are like sheep without a shepherd, can be underestimated.  If we have bodily needs, then how much greater are those needs of the soul and spirit that go undernourished and underfed, uncared for so that people may have good guidance for their lives and a reassurance of the love of God?  It is when we neglect this need that life breaks down -- and most especially when there is hardship in life is the time we most need this spiritual food for which we have the deepest hunger.   Let us note that it is the Twelve who have just returned from their apostolic mission, and that the reason they went out to a deserted place was so they may discuss their experiences with Him.  Here in this wilderness spot, Jesus gives them an important lesson, that with God's grace, they will have at hand what they need to feed multitudes, and that this indeed is their purview, their true discipline as His followers.  Especially when we are in a church, or at any time when others may see us express our faith, let us remember Christ's command for hospitality, because it extends to so much more than meeting purely material needs for anonymous masses of people.  If this is the only thing we see, then we miss the Eucharistic significance and the grace that is at work here.  We are to share God's love with people, the grace we have been given, and this is His command for us -- for even in a seeming wilderness, God's grace will be enough, sufficient, and we will find it at hand through our faith for those who hunger and thirst for it, for those with whom we find ourselves up close and personal, and with us right now.

How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?

 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar."  Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?"  He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.  They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them.  So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.  Now those who had eaten were about four thousand.  And He sent them away, immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

- Mark 8:1-10

Yesterdays we read that after a dispute with some scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, Jesus left Galilee and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.  For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.  The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.  But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs."  Then He said to her, "For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter."  And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.  Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.  Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him.  And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.  Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."  Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.  Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.  And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well.  He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar."  Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?"  He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.  They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them.  So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.  Now those who had eaten were about four thousand.  And He sent them away, immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.  We might confuse this feeding in the wilderness with the one that we read about last week, in Thursday's reading.  But the Gospels clearly set these two events as separate occasions, and there are particular differences.  First of all, Jesus has recently had an open clash with the authorities from Jerusalem (Saturday's reading), after which He went to Tyre and Sidon where a Gentile woman's daughter was healed from a demon, and then He went into the Decapolis, a mixed region of both Gentiles and Jews (see yesterday's reading, above).  So our context at this juncture in Mark's Gospel is a little different from that previous setting.  Moreover, there are other particular differences.  In the previous event, there were five loaves on hand.  This time there are seven.  The number of baskets of leftover fragments in the previous occasion were twelve; now there are seven large baskets.   Previously, Jesus fed five thousand in the wilderness; but this time, the number is four thousand.   Each of these differences is quite important, because each has symbolic meaning that linked to the evolution of Jesus' ministry, and where it is ultimately headed.   In the earlier episode, the five loaves symbolized the Law (the first five books of the Bible), but here there are seven, a number which symbolizes completeness, indicating spiritual perfection.  In the earlier incident, Jesus reveals Himself as fulfilling the Law, but here we may begin to discern that it is He who grants spiritual perfection.  The seven large baskets give us another figure of completion or fullness, the readying of the Gospel to go out to all the world.  The four thousand is also a number that symbolizes all the world who will be included in the Gospel message:  four directions, four corners of the Cross, Christ as Incarnate and also the Holy Trinity:  man and God.   Another important number here is that these crowds have specifically been with Him for three days, the number of days He will spend in the tomb, linked to the Resurrection that will "feed" all people in the world, Jew and Gentile.

It is so tempting for us to assume that somehow the Gospel writers got confused, that there must have been only one spectacular feeding miracle in Christ's ministry, and to invent all kinds of rational reasons why this could not have happened twice.  But the writers of the Gospel -- including the Holy Spirit, of course -- are far more brilliant than it seems we assume.  Moreover, Scripture is not historical writing nor is it a science textbook.  It is, in fact, something far more than that, and works on seemingly infinite levels to "feed" us what we need.  We could read these same passages every day of our lives, and they would convey to us some possible insight that we need that particular day and moment.  A science or history textbook cannot do that.  With Scripture and the work of the holy in the world, there are dimensions of meaning that we can't yet grasp, but which will always be waiting for us.  The significant details of each feeding miracle in the wilderness are marked out; each has meaning.  And this gives us something important to face in our own lives.  We are not meant to be stagnant creatures.  Our lives are marked out by time, by separate incidents, and hopefully by growth.  Christ's ministry grows and evolves.  It meets obstacles; He clashes with the leadership from Jerusalem.  But each new juncture brings a kind of growth, a new branch or offshoot, a new direction, each a new creative response through the Holy Trinity:  Father, Son, and Spirit at work in the world.  Christ's ministry is evolving and, through the apostles, will eventually go out to both Jew and Gentile, the whole world -- even though He is sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24).  Christ's evolving ministry and response to experience gives us a message about our own lives.  It would be wonderful to retain the company we've known all our lives, our friends and what is familiar.  But life does not work like that, and in particular, spiritual life does not necessarily work like that.  We are time-bound creatures and we are meant to grow.  In fact, we are always going in one direction or another -- we never stand still.  We are headed toward a deeper communion with our God, or not.  We face obstacles within ourselves we either meet with Christ, or we don't and we become more deeply enmeshed in struggles we need to face differently.  This is the struggle of the internal spiritual life, and the growth and change within Christ's ministry at every new step is a mirror of our own internal lives as a mirror of our faith.  We meet all the changes we need to make with prayer, and with faith.  It is there we find the direction that we need, the grace to accept the things we can't change and the courage to change the things we can -- to echo the words of a popular prayer widely used in a movement to help with personal struggle (The Serenity Prayer, by theologian and pastor Reinhold Niebuhr; adopted by Alchoholics Anonymous).   It really doesn't matter where we come from, faith as set out in Christ's ministry, is a journey.  It is a path, a way, as He tells us ("I am the way, the truth, and the life" - John 14:6).  That word used in the Gospel, translated as "way," means "road" in Greek.  Let us remember that we are not infinite beings outside of time, who live in an eternal fixed point.  We are created as finite beings, with a purpose for growth and evolution, experiencing time so that we may choose to meet life and experience with Christ, His way.   This path or road is not mean to be simple and effortless.  Faith is a struggle, but one which we are specifically created equipped to make, so that faith itself will test and expand who we are, take us into new foreign territory, and ask us to make hard decisions to do so.  His is the food we need, and His supply is endless.  Let us remember to turn to Him in all our choices. no matter what they are.  His is the constant bread for all of our own times in the wilderness -- no matter how frequently we may find ourselves there.

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 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 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

Yesterday we read that at this point in Jesus' ministry, King Herod heard of Him, 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, "As 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.  But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from 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.  This story continues from the point at which, in yesterday's reading, we were told that Herod has now heard of Jesus.  The apostles have just returned from their first mission, having been sent out (see Tuesday's reading).  Jesus calls them aside by themselves to rest a while.  My study bible says that this shows to those engaged in preaching and teaching that they must not labor continuously, but must also take rest.  But the multitude follows, so great is the demand upon Jesus.  This phrase, that they were like sheep not having a shepherd, is an echo from the Old Testament (Numbers 27:16-17, 1 Kings 22:17, 2 Chronicles 18:16, Isaiah 13:14, Ezekiel 34, Zechariah 10:2).  Ironically in contrast with the example of King Herod, given in the previous reading (above), the people are lost and scattered, and need a true leader, a Shepherd.  This "Good Shepherd" makes all the difference, for He is One who is moved with compassion for them.  My study bible notes that this phrase is used frequently for Christ in the Gospels (for an earlier occasion in Mark's Gospel, see 1:41).  It shows that His power and authority are extended to those who suffer.  What is the first thing necessary for these who are like sheep without a shepherd?  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.  First Jesus offers leadership -- particularly teaching -- to these who are like sheep not having a shepherd.  But then the day becomes far spent, and the disciples are concerned that for these sheep there is nothing to eat.  They suggest that Jesus send them away to go buy themselves food.  But Jesus gives another example, and tells them men just returned from their first apostolic mission, "You give them something to eat."   Like Moses, an earlier shepherd for the people who needed a leader, Jesus invokes through this miracle -- which is reported in all four Gospels -- the bread fed to the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 16).  But this time, the Lord is Incarnate; Jesus' divine identity is the same Lord who once fed Israel with bread.  The Patristic tradition sees in this miracle an image of the Eucharist, which my study bible says is made clear in John 6.  We note that Jesus looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to distribute to the people, just as the Eucharist is fed to Christ's flock through His shepherds in the Church.  The language is similar to that of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26).  There is an additional spiritual interpretation that sees in the five loaves the five books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), linking Christ as Lord of the Old Covenant;  they are "broken open" in Christ through His mission as Incarnate Lord, and thereby feed the universe.  The two fish, my study bible says, represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle Book, the teaching of the fishermen.  The apostles gather twelve baskets of leftover fragments of loaves and fish, one for each of them as they will be sent out into the world.  My study bible notes that this shows that the teachings which 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.  Here is another sign that this is a turning point in His ministry.  At each juncture, Jesus sets the example for us, as He departed to the mountain to pray.

In the Lord's Prayer, we're taught to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11, Luke 11:3).  The word translated as daily is a unique word, coined specifically for the Gospels.  Its true literal meaning is something like "super-essential" -- meaning a bread that has a super-substance to it, bread that is more than common bread, containing more dimensions of true substance or essence.  It is a metaphor for the bread of the Eucharist, which is more than just bread.  In today's reading, Jesus feeds five thousand men (and more women and children), giving a taste not only of His divine identity as Lord, the One who fed the Israelites in the wilderness when they were led by Moses, but also prefiguring this "daily bread" for which we pray, the bread of the Eucharist.  That is, the bread made possible through His Incarnation, His mission in the world, in which He comes to each one of us, to all of us, as the true Shepherd for sheep who always need leadership.  In the language of the early Church, we are the "rational" or "intelligent sheep."  That is, it is our nature as human beings to need good leadership.  We have the capacity to think and to choose, but we can't make it up from scratch.  To be limited only to the things of this world, beautiful as it is, and its values alone, is to lack the true and necessary leadership that creatures like us really need.  If we are to really understand ourselves as rational and intelligent sheep, then we accept that what we always need are true teachers.  Christ is that Teacher who fills us with good things.  And there we come to the "super-essential" bread.  That is, the things that fill us with all that we need -- that which feeds spirit, soul, and body.  Jesus fills their bodies with bread in the wilderness, but first this Good Shepherd fills them with teachings.  He is also moved with compassion for them, showing them love, and especially companionship in their suffering.  This is the image of God that we all need, and it is another way of being truly fed with the spiritual food that nourishes each part of us and recognizes who and what we are.  Jesus will say later, when He sends out the Seventy-Two on another apostolic mission, "I send you out as lambs among wolves" (Luke 10:3).  He will also warn His whole Church to be wary of would-be prophets who are "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15).  To be fed with the good things of God by a Good Shepherd is to be given teaching and instruction, by One who loves us enough to suffer with us (the meaning of "compassion").  It is also to be nurtured and strengthened for the struggle to stay true to our true nature amidst the wolves.  Note that if we don't realize our own nature, and what we truly need, we will never be in a position to receive what He gives.  Let us be grateful for what we receive, and remember that we also draw nurture from the One who loves us through His example of withdrawal for prayer.