Feeding the 5,000

 

When I was growing up in California, our schools didn’t have cafeterias.  There were 22 elementary schools in our district, most of them built in the 1950’s during the post-war boom when everyone and their brother or sister wanted to move to the land of palm trees and movie stars.  Schools were built so fast, the districts didn’t have the money to include cafeterias.  They said they would add them later.  They never did.

Everyone brought their lunch from home, even the teachers.  Occasionally, someone forgot their lunch at home.  Without a cafeteria, what do you think happened to the students who forgot their lunch?  Did they go home?  Did they go hungry?  No, they ate like royalty!  Other children shared part of their lunches with the one who was without, and in the end, that child usually had the biggest, best lunch of anyone!

Today’s story involves a little boy who shared his lunch and helped Jesus to feed a whole bunch of people.

One time, Jesus and his disciples were on a large hill by the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus looked out and saw a big crowd of people coming toward him.  They had heard about the amazing things Jesus had done—like healing a blind man, for example—and they wanted to meet him.  It was close to lunch time, so Jesus asked his disciple, Philip, “How are we going to buy bread to feed all of these people?”

Philip said, “Are you kidding?  We don’t have close to what it would cost to buy just a little bit of food for each person!’

Another of Jesus’ disciples named Andrew said, “There’s a young boy here who has five rolls and two fish, but what is that when there are so many people to feed?”

Jesus told the disciples to tell everyone to sit down.  The people sat down on the grass.  There were 5,000 men, not counting the women and children!  Jesus gave thanks to God for the food, and then passed it out to the entire crowd.  Everyone had more than enough to eat.  When they were finished, Jesus told the disciples to pick up the leftovers.  They filled 12 baskets!

The people were amazed and filled with awe.  “Surely this man is the prophet sent by God,” they said.  

God's gifts are over-the-top!  He gives us what we need and then some.  

Thanks be to God!