My personal highlight of the “loaves and fishes” miracle is when the young boy, influenced by the Holy Spirit, volunteers his food to Andrew. I profoundly believe that the boy’s faith informed him that the meager amount of his food would be joyfully received and multiplied. As Christians of deep prayer, we are responsible for cautiously mirroring his innocence, love, mercy, and compassion. What may seem like a meager local effort for the physically and spiritually hungry crowd can have a combined global impact. In unconditional faith, we can be like this boy to help Jesus fill others with what they need.
The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes by James Tissot
The full-resolution painting and more details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Eastertide Reflections
John 6:1-15 – Scripture*
Feeding the Five Thousand
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5 When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”
15 When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on John 6:1-15 Reflection – Help Jesus.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative prayer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible John 6 passage.
This site follows the guidelines for image web use at the websites of the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum.