Mark 8:1-10 NRSVue
1In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, 2“I have compassion for the crowd because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. 3If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way—and some of them have come from a great distance.” 4His disciples replied, “How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?” 5He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. 7They had also a few small fish, and after blessing them he ordered that these, too, should be distributed. 8They ate and were filled, and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
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Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
Lord, when you pointed out the hunger of the crowd, your disciples were
defeatist: /How can one feed these people in the desert?/ In reply you did
not offer magic, but challenged the disciples: /How many loaves do you have?/
Reflection
All I can work with is what I have, and my experience of your gifts. Instead
of looking round for experts, may I use everything I am given.
Reflection
The loaves of the people fed the crowd. Jesus uses what we can give to him in
his service. He speaks his word through us and loves the world through us. We
are as amazed as the disciples were that our small contribution can do so
much when joined to his power of love.
Reflection
This scene is reminiscent of the story of the feeding of five thousand in
Mark 6, but there are some subtle differences. As in the previous story,
Eucharistic references are there: Jesus gives thanks and breaks the bread as
he did at the last supper. This time he only breaks seven loaves and two
fish. Some scholars see in this number 'seven' a reference to the mission to
the Gentiles undertaken by the seven "deacons" mentioned in the Acts of the
Apostles. (Acts 6:1-7) All Christians are called to be missionaries in the
sense of sharing God's unconditional love with others.
Reflection
Jesus sees the distance I have come and looks at me with compassion. I take
this time to allow myself to be nourished as Jesus offers me insight. I bring
the people and situations of my life before him.
Reflection
The disciples looked and saw their lack; Jesus asked them to look again and
see the possibilities. I look at my life with Jesus, allowing myself to see
and appreciate anew.