Feeding the Five Thousand

“Feeding the Five Thousand” John 6:1-14

“Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee…. And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. Jesus went up into the hills, and there sat down with his disciples.”

When the “Feeding of the Five Thousand” is read in church, it always reminds me of the day my husband and I, fresh off a Marriage Encounter weekend, attended our first ME class reunion. The thing I remember most about that day was participating in a small-group discussion of this gospel story. The question we were all asked to reflect on was this: What if you were there that day, on the hillside; what part would you play?

How do you see yourself in this story? Would you be someone in the crowd, tired and hungry, but so drawn to Jesus that you were not ready to call it a day and go home? You might be like one of His disciples who were bewildered by Jesus’ question: “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” Maybe you would be practical like Philip and try to make Jesus see reason: “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” It’s more likely you would try to help, like the little boy did, when he offered to share his lunch, even though it wasn’t much. “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?”

I don’t remember what anyone shared that day (including me) except for the leader of our small group. His name was Gerry, and I didn’t really know him at the time. I could tell he was a deeply spiritual man, and he has become a treasured friend. Gerry was the last one in the group to share, and I remember the unexpected answer he gave. He said, “I want to be the lunch.” It made me laugh, because I thought he was kidding. But he wasn’t! He wanted us to understand, that miracles happen when we put ourselves in Jesus’ hands. ”Jesus then 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.” Jesus took that humble lunch and transformed it into a grand banquet. And the lesson for me that day was that Jesus can take something that is worn out or broken and make it whole. He can take something hopelessly tarnished and make it shine with new life. And He does the same thing for us, when we place our hearts, our talents, our entire lives in His hands. Jesus can take whatever we entrust to Him and turn it into something wonderful.

On that memorable afternoon in 2005, when our Marriage Encounter classmates met for the first of many, many reunions, we spent the afternoon getting to know each other, singing praise songs, and reflecting on the gospel of the day, “Feeding the Five Thousand.” And the lesson I learned that day has stuck with me ever since.

“When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!”

Thank you, Gerry. I’ve learned a lot from you. God bless you.

I received an email from Gerry’s wife that I want to share. She wrote: “I vaguely remember this part of the reunion, but recently, when we were viewing the daily reflections on tv and it was time for this Gospel reading, Gerry just blurted out to me, ‘Let’s be the lunch.’ I honestly didn’t know what he was talking about. And then he explained it as he had on that day almost 20 years ago.”

To God be the glory.