Although the disciples don’t have a clue where to get enough food for the hungry crowd, Jesus feeds the multitudes because a boy offered the little bit he had.

My parents had 10 mouths to feed on a regular basis. They did this on one salary, and that was no princely wage either. Every Wednesday, my mother bought a few bags of groceries and had to make 21 meals with it over the next week. That’s 210 servings, for the mathematically challenged. The food was repetitious and dessert was reserved for birthdays and holidays. But no one ever went hungry in our house.

After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews.

We walked into the large tent that was set up for us, visiting Jordan from North America. It seemed as if the entire congregation were there, dressed in their best outfits. All of them sat formally in their seats in a big circle around the perimeter of the tent. There were a lot of nods and smiles.

Today’s gospel is so incredibly countercultural that it’s hard not to write it off as a supernatural event that doesn’t relate to real life.

When Jesus saw the hungry crowds who had followed him in search of healing, he found a way to feed them immediately. Not everyone in today’s world is so fortunate.

Like the crowds who followed Jesus, we seek him and ask him for forgiveness and healing.

You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart.