January 4, 2011 Gospel Reflection

Mark 6:34-44 (New International Version, ©2010)

³⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
 ³⁵ By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. ³⁶ Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
 ³⁷ But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
   They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages^[a]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
   ³⁸ “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
   When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
 ³⁹ Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. ⁴¹ Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² They all ate and were satisfied, ⁴³ and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. ⁴⁴ The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

REFLECTION

This gospel passage is well known as the miracle of the multiplication of the bread. But I would like to call this miracle as the "Multiplication of Charity". The Jews are very practical people.  They will never leave their houses without any provision. In fact, when they left Egypt during the time of Moses, they were able to bring with them unleavened bread. I suspect that each person in the crowd with Jesus have brought something to eat.  But they were keeping it because they thought that their neighbor did not bring anything and he might ask from the little I have and there will be not enough for both of us.  So they hid their provisions and were waiting to be alone in order to open it.  But when they saw what Jesus did they were struck with shame.  Jesus took the five loaves and two fish and distributed it to the crowd. Then each one brought out his provision and shared it with everyone. Thus a feast was created. Five thousand men were able to eat to satisfaction and there were twelve basketful of left overs.

Our world does not lack food though many are hungry. Our world does not lack housing though many are homeless. Our world does not lack clothing though many are naked.  What we lack is charity. Just like the Jews in that crowd, each one of us is thinking only of his own needs. If we only follow the charity of Jesus, we will find that we have more than enough.