There is so much to think about both at superficial and deeper levels.  There is the practical example of Jesus in taking his disciples away for a time of rest and refreshment after a period of demanding work.  Do we as Christians take ‘time out’ as regularly as we should?

There is the generosity of the young boy whose little offering was used by Jesus to provide food for the great crowd.  And in our life as Christians we should put what we have at the service of Jesus, even if we don’t think it amounts to much.  Jesus can do great things with meagre resources. (24) So we should bring what we have before Jesus, not knowing what he will do with it, but with the expectation that he will do something new and creative. (25)

The barley loaves, the simple food of poor people, perhaps nudge us into examining our attitude to food and the importance we attach to it. 

The collecting of the broken fragments of food teaches us not to waste the things God gives us.  It also shows us the value of doing little things well for the love of God e.g. being orderly and finishing things completely. (26)

The whole event reveals the compassion of Jesus and his love of people.  But at a deeper level this miracle shows us who Jesus is.  It a sign that Jesus is the Messiah and the generous scale of the feeding is in keeping with the idea of the Messianic banquet. (27) The prophets had looked forward to the coming of the Messiah which would be characterised by plentiful amounts of food and wine (Isaiah 25:6). 

Finally, we can see how this evening supper banquet points us forward to the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist.  “The miracle of the Lord’s giving his own body and blood to fill mankind’s deepest hunger, communion with God, may be said to be symbolized in this preliminary ‘supper’ “. (28)

4. PRAY

Spend some time praying for your own needs and the needs of others.

5. PROMISE

Looking ahead

Think about what action you could now take in the light of your reading and reflection.  Decide what to do and write it down in your notebook as a promise to God.

You may wish to end by asking God to help you keep your promise.