Jesus Feeds and Heals

 

Mark 8: 1-10

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

8 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ² “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. ³ If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

⁴ His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”

⁵ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied.

⁶ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. ⁷ They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. ⁸ The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ⁹ About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, ¹⁰ he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

 As we read about this miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes, we also remember the appearances of Mary at Lourdes, France where millions of pilgrims have prayed for healing and many have been healed physically or spiritually.  How simply God works. feeding thousands with a few loaves and fishes, or by a simple bathing in a tub of water!

The God who made us, this whole, ever-expanding, it seems, universe, certainly can cure us of our ills or supply us with what we need to grow in our faith, or simply to survive.  May we take advantage of his largess, laying our needs and desires before him and trusting that his answer is what we really need.

Bro. Rene