Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people.
He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha
- Jesus‘ compasssion towards those who were following Him led to his 2nd miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the fish. In the first time (Mk 6:33-44)
- Jesus performed the miracle, he did so because he saw a huge crowd like “sheep without a shepherd”;
- now, his heart is moved with pity for the crowd they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.
- These two miracles show us that Jesus is not indifferent with human suffering. He has a huge heart which understands our desires, difficulties, and needs – even the most basic ones- and thus, must fill us with gratitude towards Our Lord for his concern on our material and spiritual well-being, and trust Him and His Providence as well in the midst of our difficulties.
- The two miracles of the multiplication of the loaves and fish prefigure the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist wherein Our Lord will not only give us bread for our bodily needs, but the bread which came down from heaven for our salvation: His Body, which will fill us with profound joy.
- The gathering of the left-over fragments onot only shows us the importance of poverty, but also of God’s suberabundant generosity to those who follow Him. We must never put to waste the graces which He gratuitously grants us but rather correspond to them and treasure them in our life.