Reflection on Mark 6:34-44 ~
Most Christians or those considering practicing their Christianity will ask themselves, how many loaves can I share with others? This scripture passage is perhaps one of the most striking examples of Jesus’s compassion, offering himself to others and showing us how to love. I know I have to constantly remind myself to allow God’s love to overfill my needs to be Christ-like. We can trust and ask for the same grace that produced food for the crowds so we too can share all the excess of our time, talent, and treasures that God provides.
The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum
Additional Christmastide Reflections
Mark 6 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35 When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; 36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii] worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And all ate and were filled; 43 and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel reading and considering this Lectio Divina Mark 6:34-44 Reflection – How Many Loaves Can I Share.
This site has written permission from New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) to use the Mark 6 Bible passage.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.