Feeding the Multitudes

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 8:54 am Post subject: Feeding the Multitudes

Feeding the Multitudes

Scripture:

And a certain man came from Baalsalisa, bringing to the man of God, bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and new corn in his scrip. And he said: Give to the people, that they may eat. And his servant answered him: How much is this, that I should set it before a hundred men? He said again: Give to the people, that they may eat: for thus says the Lord: They shall eat, and there shall be left. So he set it before them: and they ate, and there was left, according to the word of the Lord. (2 Kings 4:42-44)

I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called: With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity. Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. One body and one Spirit: as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)

fter these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased. Jesus therefore went up into a mountain: and there he sat with his disciples. Now the passover, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand. When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes and seen that a very great multitude came to him, he said to Philip: Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to try him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him: There is a boy here that has five barley loaves and two fishes. But what are these among so many?

Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now, there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up therefore and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which remained over and above to them that had eaten. Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet that is to come into the world. Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force and make him king, fled again into the mountains, himself alone. (John 6:1-15)

Reflection:

To live, one must have food. He gives to us gifts of the land and the water so to energize our bodies. Through the toil of our hands and the design of His creation, we are sustained. While the food of the this world gives us life of the body, what is the meaning of the body if it does not have the life of the soul? The foundation of who we are, the fullness of our existence and that which transcends death into life is defined by what is in our soul. The life of our soul is sustained through Him, fed by what cannot be given through the land or the bodies of water.

And so it was prophesied, the hungry would stand before Him. Only a few loaves they would find in their midst, but after all had their fill, baskets of morsels would still be left. They did not throng to Him for the grains of the land, but for the food He provided for their souls. Though He could heal their bodies, the gift of the moment does not compare to the gift of eternity.

In prayer we should praise Him for all He provides to fulfill us. In prayer we should ask for understanding of His plan for us. He formed each of us in the womb for a purpose. To each He has granted us gifts so that our lives might be dedicated to His design. Together, we are the families, the communities, the nations of His creation. We are called to serve one God and one another in faith and love. Through one baptism we are washed so that we might join in the one body of Christ. If we seek to understand His Word and unite in belief in Him, the blessings of love will be enjoyed by all. In prayer we should ask Him to guide us in faith so that we do not fall to divisions left as snares by the evil one who lays in wait to strike at the heels of the children of His creation.

The multitude came to Him, believing in the miracles He performed. The food He offered to those who followed Him was in compassion, not for the hunger of the body, but the hunger of the soul. As He walked among them, He fulfilled the prophesies so that all might see, so that all might believe, so that all might be saved. He did not bring an army to conquer all before Him. He brought a greater power; one which cannot be be overcome by evil; the blessings of wisdom, love and healing. All who saw were amazed. All who worshiped were blessed. All who believed were saved.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier