In Mark’s Gospel Jesus fed five thousand hungry people in a deserted place during the early evening hour with just five loaves and two fish. All the people ate and were satisfied. There were twelve baskets of fragments leftover from the meal. It is the Miracle of the Loaves, and it is one of the most remarkable events in Jesus’ public ministry.
A Miracle in the Desert
The apostles gathered together with Jesus
and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them,
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.”
People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat.
So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.
People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.
They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already very late.
Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?”
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.”
So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing,
broke the loaves,
and gave them to [his] disciples to set before the people;
he also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish.
Those who ate [of the loaves] were five thousand men.
Mark 6:30-44
Some basic questions to consider about this Sacred Scripture passage:
- Who? Jesus, the disciples, and thousands of people.
- What? A miracle of Jesus in the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish.
- Where? A deserted place, the wilderness near the lakeshore of Galilee.
- When? During the first part of Jesus public ministry in Mark’s Gospel.
- Why ? Symbolic anticipation of Jesus as the Bread of Life in the Eucharist +
The multiplication of the loaves is one of the nature miracles of Jesus, and it occurs two (2) times in the Gospel of Mark (see 8:1-10).
This miracle of Jesus is profound because it occurs in all four Gospels.
“The multiplication of the loaves is the only New Testament miracle story recorded in multiple versions in all four gospels. In Mark, its existence in two different versions may point to a meaning applied to both Jewish and Gentile settings, thus indicating Jesus’ ministry to both audiences. Source: Little Rock Catholic Study Bible
Contemplate the Word
Some points of contemplation with this Gospel passage are provided below.
The Meal
- The meal serves as nourishment for the people who follow Jesus.
- The meal provides revelation of Jesus’ identity and messianic mission.
“Ask the Virgin Mary to give you her Son, who in the blessed sacrament of the altar is truly the food of your soul.” – St. Cajetan, priest
Two Banquets
- Herodian banquet – sumptuous, ended in death (John the Baptist).
- Jesus desert banquet – Nourishes ordinary people, leads to life (Eucharist).
A Conversation with God
This passage contains the longest extended conversation in Mark (35-39).
A Banquet in the Desert
- God provides super-abundantly for his people
- The entire passage is deeply rooted in the Old Testament.
- Gods satisfies both their spiritual and physical hunger.
- Jesus fulfills God’s promise to provide a food no money can buy.
“As a grain of wheat slowly multiplies in the ground, so the bread and fishes, by a divinely hastened process, were multiplied until everyone had his fill. If He had given money, no one would have had his fill.” – Blessed Fulton Sheen
Disciples
- Disciples fail to understand what Jesus is doing.
- Their response of complaint recalls Moses in the desert wilderness.
- After feeding, they gather up the leftovers (leaving nothing to waste).
- Distribution of bread foreshadows priesthood and the Eucharist.
Jesus’ Response to His Disciples
- Awaken disciples’ faith – Jesus is asking His disciples to do something they simply cannot do without the assistance of God.
- Challenge – Jesus is calling for the disciples to participate in His own Divine work of providing for the needs of people hungry for God in their lives.
The Daily Wage
Denarius – single daily wage of laborer; over half a year needed for food purchase.
The Good Shepherd
- Lord the Good Shepherd of Ezekiel.
- Tending his needy flock.
- Teaching them at great length.
- Reminds Mark’s readers of God’s providence in the past.
“Christ himself, the bread from heaven, is man’s nourishment enabling him to grow in virtue, and it is Christ who quenches his thirst and gladdens him with his teaching.” – St. Procopius of Gaza
Green Grass
- Early spring in Galilee during Passover time.
- Gives repose.
- Jesus sets a table before his people.
- God transforms the desert into a place of refreshment and life.
Principles of God
- Jesus insists on beginning with what the disciples have to offer.
- Jesus wants to multiply what his disciples are able to give Him (apostolic action).
- God’s math – There is always a surplus with God.
Authority of God
- Jesus instructs the disciples to give the people nourishment.
- Jesus instructs the disciples to find out how much food they have available.
- Jesus instructs the disciples to have the people sit down in groups.
Messianic Banquet
- Jesus hosts a banquet in the desert wilderness.
- Recalls the messianic banquet of Isaiah.
- Arrangement of the tribes of Israel camped in desert.
- Jesus as God feeds his followers with new bread from heaven.
“The food that you receive, that living bread which came down from heaven, supplies the very substance of eternal life, and whoever will eat it will never die, for it is the body of Christ.” – St. Ambrose, Church Father
Miracle of the Loaves
- No excitement or amazement and wonder.
- People ate and were satisfied.
- More than enough to go around.
- Abundance and leftovers.
- Manifestion of Jesus’ identity as Lord.
“I no longer take pleasure in perishable food or in the delights of this world. I want only God’s bread, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, formed of the seed of David, and for drink I crave his blood, which is love that cannot perish.” – St. Ignatius, Church Father and martyr
Foreshadowing of the Last Supper
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to [his] disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all. Mark 6:41
- Jesus – Taking the five loaves and two fish.
- Jesus – Looking up to heaven.
- Jesus – Said the blessing.
- Jesus – Broke the loaves.
- Jesus – Gave them to his disciples to set before the people.
While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Mark 14:22
Baltimore Catechism 238. Q. What is the Holy Eucharist?
A. The Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament which contains the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.
God’s Will is Done
- Past – Numerous Bridges to the Old Testament in this passage.
- Present – Those with him, early Christians, us reading today.
- Future – for the future generations of the Catholic Church.
CCC 1335 The miracles of the multiplication of the loaves, when the Lord says the blessing, breaks and distributes the loaves through his disciples to feed the multitude, prefigure the superabundance of this unique bread of his Eucharist.
Old Testament Bridges & New Evangelization
It will not be out of place to consider the ancient tradition, teaching and faith of the Catholic Church, which was revealed by the Lord, proclaimed by the apostles and guarded by the Fathers. – St. Athanasius, Church Father
+ Messianic Banquet of Isaiah +
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. Isaiah 25:6
All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, buy grain and eat; Come, buy grain without money, wine and milk without cost! Isaiah 55:1
Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what does not satisfy? Only listen to me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare. Isaiah 55:2
+ Moses and Israel in the Desert Wilderness +
Then the LORD said to Moses: I am going to rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not. Exodus 16:4
+ Multiplied Loaves Provided by Elisha +
A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing the man of God twenty barley loaves made from the first fruits, and fresh grain in the ear. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.” 2 Kings 4:42
But his servant objected, “How can I set this before a hundred?” Elisha again said, “Give it to the people to eat, for thus says the LORD: You will eat and have some left over.” 2 Kings 4:43
He set it before them, and when they had eaten, they had some left over, according to the word of the LORD. 2 Kings 4:44
+ Moses and the Disciples +
Where can I get meat to give to all this people? For they are crying to me, ‘Give us meat for our food.’ Numbers 11:13
Can enough sheep and cattle be slaughtered for them? If all the fish of the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?” Numbers 11:22
They spoke against God, and said, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? Psalms 78:19
+ Green Pastures of Old +
The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalms 23:1-5
The wilderness and the parched land will exult; the Arabah will rejoice and bloom; Isaiah 35:1
Thus they shall know that I, the LORD, their God, am with them, and that they are my people, the house of Israel—oracle of the Lord GOD. Yes, you are my flock: you people are the flock of my pasture, and I am your God—oracle of the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 34:25-31
+ Old Testament Hospitality +
Then he got some curds and milk, as well as the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them, waiting on them under the tree while they ate. Genesis 18:8
Now you, in turn, please listen to your maidservant. Let me set out a bit of food for you to eat, so that you are strong enough to go on your way.” 1 Samuel 28:22
+ God of Abundance, Past Present and Future +
But when they measured it out by the omer, the one who had gathered a large amount did not have too much, and the one who had gathered a small amount did not have too little. They gathered as much as each needed to eat. Exodus 16:18
I fed you in the wilderness, in the parched land. When I fed them, they were satisfied; when satisfied, they became proud, therefore they forgot me. Hosea 13:5-6
You open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Psalms 145:16
+ Food of the Angels +
God rained manna upon them for food; grain from heaven he gave them. Man ate the bread of the angels; food he sent in abundance. Psalms 78:24-25
They asked and he brought them quail; with bread from heaven he filled them. Psalms 105:40
Instead of this, you nourished your people with food of angels and furnished them bread from heaven, ready to hand, untoiled-for, endowed with all delights and conforming to every taste. For this substance of yours revealed your sweetness toward your children, and serving the desire of the one who received it, was changed to whatever flavor each one wished. Wisdom 16:20-21
Closing Thoughts…
Jesus loves us and He cares for us. The Good Lord provides for our needs both physically and spiritually today just as He did thousands of years ago in both the Old and New Testaments. He gives us His own Body and Precious Blood in the Eucharist.
Jesus also challenges us just as He did His disciples. Our mission is not give up, but to take what little we have and offer it up to Him so that through His blessing He may multiply and distribute it in accordance with Divine Providence.
However you are called to proclaim the Gospels in this era of New Evangelization, take comfort in the Word itself, for if you contemplate it deeply enough you will soon come to realize the Angel of the Lord is with you and watching over you +
For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. Psalms 91:11
