five loaves and two fish

"Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.

A large crowd followed him,

because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.

Jesus went up on the mountain,

and there he sat down with his disciples.

The Jewish feast of Passover was near.

When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,

he said to Philip, 'Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?'

He said this to test him,

because he himself knew what he was going to do.

Philip answered him,

'Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough

for each of them to have a little.'

One of his disciples,

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,

'There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;

but what good are these for so many?'

Jesus said, 'Have the people recline.'

Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.

So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,

and distributed them to those who were reclining,

and also as much of the fish as they wanted.

When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,

'Gather the fragments left over,

so that nothing will be wasted.'

So they collected them,

and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments

from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.

When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,

'This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.'

Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off

to make him king,

he withdrew again to the mountain alone."

(Jn 6:1-15)

This Gospel passage is a wonderful reflection on nothing less than the amazing generosity of our God. Jesus feeds the five thousand by multiplying a mere five loaves and two fish. 

Not only do all present eat their fill - but there are leftovers!

Now, when I cook, I always think the leftovers are the best part because I can take them for lunch the next day. But when Jesus "cooks," the leftovers are the best part because they can be shared with others - literally, in this case, but also figuratively, in our lives. What is the best part of God's grace and love acting in our lives? That God gives generously, to the point of overflowing, so that we can share his gifts, so that we can share him with others. 

All the boy had were five loaves and two fish, and he offered them to Jesus and the disciples. Five loaves. Two fish. All he had - and he offered them to Jesus - who gave back to him, and gave to the crowd, more than they could consume, more than they needed for themselves. Jesus gave generously, so that his generosity could be shared, directing the disciples to "gather the fragments... so that nothing will be wasted." 

Before Jesus feeds the multitude, Andrew asks the him, referring to the loaves and fish, "but what good are these for so many?" Have you ever asked God something similar, perhaps thinking about yourself - "what good can I possibly do, when the world is so messed up?" And yet, God shows us that we can do much good. We can impact the world - when we accept his generosity, and share his abundant gifts - love, mercy, hope - everything he offers. 

I think we would do well to remember the example of the boy who gave Jesus the five loaves and two fish that were all he had, and endeavor to do the same - to give Jesus everything we have - knowing he is generous beyond all measure.


I think we would also do well to remember those five loaves and two fish. Though small and seemingly insignificant, they provided food for more than five thousand people. When we feel small and seemingly insignificant, perhaps this will buoy our hope, and help remind us that God does great things with small things. 


+peace, and all good, my friends.