The Fragments Leftover

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus 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. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. John 6:1-15 (NRSV)

Great Creator, heart of the people

you provide for rich and poor alike

your bounty knows no limits or bounds

you are present in our beautiful diversity.

So many people have been lost this year

so much hunger, homelessness and fear

we ache for the freedom to travel out

and your love constrains us, caring for all.

You ached for the crowd who gathered

feeding them to their fullest and more

your reluctant disciples gathered leftover

so that nothing or no one might be lost.

You are the God of the hungry and the fragments

help us to see you in every stranger and friend

make us people who notices all the fragments

and who serve the hungry and lost in your name. Amen.