Filled

In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, ‘I have compassion 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 faint on the way—and some of them have come from a great distance.’ His disciples replied, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?’ He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’ They said, ‘Seven.’ Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. Mark 8:1-10

We live in a country where there is plenty of food. We also live in a country where some people are starving, and many are food insecure. Some of us have our fill and them some every day, while other people scrape up what others tossed away. Jesus had great compassion for the hungry crowd. Some of them may have not planned ahead but had enough to buy food, while others came emptyhanded. To all of them, he gave food. And to all of us, he continues to provide the sustenance we need. We are invited to share what we have do others can be filled.

Gracious Creator, you draped our earth with fields

made it so these could produce great harvests

and you stocked the river with abundant fish

giving us your strength and feeding us all.

Some hoard and pile up many resources

some have limited way to feed themselves

others go hungry so their children can live

even though you give us enough for all.

Lord, help us to gather up and share

your bounty is miraculous and wondrous

make us grateful for your many blessings

and help us be blessings to our neighbors. Amen.