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

We often speculate how the feeding of the five thousand happened but rarely remember the gathered fragment. Twelve baskets full were left over so that even more could be fed. Abundance is a thing w rarely claim and yet, as a people we have abundance all around us. All we can see is the lack. The disciples could only see the lack. Yet one child's gift became food for a hungry throng. May we be like the little boy, offering what we can, not seeing how little it is, but knowing that it will be blessed, shared and become abundance for countless hungry folks.

Compassionate Creator, source of all our food

you know our needs before we even can ask

you hear our cries before we can even speak them

and you hold us close even when we forget you.

The world teaches us to be afraid and to hoard

we look around us and see others with more

jealousy and dangerous longing creep into us

and our hearts are sick with worry and fear.

Let your love make us childlike and fearless 

may we share the little we have with others

knowing you will bless it and make abundance

for your love can feed and heal the masses even now. Amen.