Gather Up the Fragments

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 towards 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

O wondrous Creator who scattered the stars

who spread the world with lush greens

you planted us all across this round globe

and gather us up from the four directions.

From a child's meal of fives loaves and two fish

you made a feast for thousands of hungry folks

your disciples doubted their own capacity

you taught them to trust in the abundance of love.

We are stretched thin and fragmenting now

we feel unable to put the pieces back together

life has made us feeling lost and broken

yet you always make sure that nothing is lost.

Help us to trust in the abundance of your love

renew us to see the possibilities in fragments

take doubt away and replace it with hope

so that those hungering can be always fed. Amen.