Sheep Without A Shepherd

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray. Mark 6:30-46

Sheep Without A Shepherd

You can see it in their faces, a hunger
a whole deep in the pit of their stomachs
yearning to be satisfied and finally safe
a shelter where they can rest and restore.

The homeless ache for kindness and recognition
the hungry for a full belly, the abused, safety
hope and dignity has been stolen from them
they dream of coming home again.

From little there can be overflowing plenty
from a small gesture can come a symphony
from wandering lost we can have shelter rest
and the Divine will rest along with us.

The shadows have deepen and fears arise
our land is threatened, our herds are rattled
God is in the midst here in troubled times
willing to sit us down as a banquet to feed us.

Our worry, brokenness and shame can become
the needed miracles for these turbulent days
our acts of love and gratitude can spill over
making home again for all us refugees.