Mark 8:1-10

Lectio (Reading)

Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat,
Jesus summoned the disciples and said,
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
because they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
If I send them away hungry to their homes,
they will collapse on the way,
and some of them have come a great distance.”
His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread
to satisfy them here in this deserted place?”
Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”
They replied, “Seven.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them,
and gave them to his disciples to distribute,
and they distributed them to the crowd.
They also had a few fish.
He said the blessing over them
and ordered them distributed also.
They ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets.
There were about four thousand people.

He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples
and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

Meditatio (Reflecting)

Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.

Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd.

Oratio (Responding)

Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.

The stories of the feedings of 5000/4000 are most clearly seen as a type of the eucharist. If you don’t understand the story of the bread you will never understand the story of Jesus. These stories of feeding point to the ultimate bread, and the ultimate feast that Jesus gives us in the eucharist.

The miracle of feeding 5000 took place in jewish territory. It fed all from 5 loaves, leaving 12 baskets (referencing the 12 tribes of isreal). This miracle places Jesus as the new moses feeding isreal with new bread, new mana from heaven. The miracle of 4000 took place in gentile territory. It fed all from 7 loaves leaving 7 baskets (referencing the number of the covenant and the 7 gentile peoples in the land of canaan. This miracle places Jesus as the new moses feeding the gentiles with new bread as well

Why was there less left over? St. Jerome suggests it was because they were hungrier. “Four thousand men‚ fewer certainly in number, but greater in faith. The one who is greater in faith eats more, and because he does, there is less left over!” The jewish people had less to learn from Jesus, because they knew the Father, and they lived the law, but they were complacent, and lazy about their faith. The gentiles on the other hand took longer to understand and had much more to learn, but once they knew the truth they were far hungrier to know more.

Isn’t this the way with all things? Converts always make better catholics then those that were born into it. There is so much to cover with regard to these miracles but the main message is that Jesus meets us where we are, and brings us to the truth in the way that we will best be able to understand. So pay attention and be opened.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)

Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.

Oh lord, help me to today to listen to your word, to let it work into my heart and my life. Let me be opened to the grace you want to pour out on me and my life.