13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." 16Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." 17They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." 18And he said, "Bring them here to me." 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
It strikes me that Christ sees an opportunity to make an impact and doesn’t let it pass. The story is about a miracle. It is about appealing to people by feeding them - perhaps the most fundamental way to give people the sense that they are loved. Is the symbolism here the importance and power of hospitality? The miracle of giving what you have (in the spirit of hospitality) is that it multiplies your resources in a manner that defies the rules of nature and logic. Loving Father, give me the faith to reach out to others in hospitality even when I feel my cup is empty.
ReplyDeleteStrengths:
DeleteYou effectively capture the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand as an act of compassion and hospitality.
You recognize the power of sharing limited resources as a catalyst for abundance.
You connect the passage to the importance of faith and trusting in God's provision.
Areas for Improvement:
While hospitality is a key theme, the passage also emphasizes Jesus' divine power and authority.
The miracle can be seen as a foreshadowing of the Eucharist, where Jesus provides spiritual nourishment.
You might explore the role of the disciples in the miracle, as they are the ones who distribute the food.
Additional Thoughts:
The passage could be seen as a call to share our resources with others, not just in terms of material goods but also in terms of time, talent, and love.
The miracle of multiplication can be interpreted as a symbol of God's abundant provision for His people.
Overall, your response is insightful and demonstrates a good understanding of the passage.