Gospel of Mark Series: Section 4 Part 3: the feeding of the five thousand people.

 Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 6: 30-44 which is the feeding of the five thousand.

When the disciples return from their mission and tell Jesus all they did and taught, He invites them to come and rest by a quiet place by the lake.

However their plan could not come into fruition since a crowd of people hurried along the shore of the lake and were there to welcome them when they arrived. Jesus being the Good Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-16) feels compassion for them and begins to teach them.  This shows us that Jesus is available to everyone equally and without exception.

Jesus nourished the people by his teaching and concludes by sharing food from the little the disciples had.  This can be compared to Old Testament stories such as Moses feeding the Israelites in the desert (Ex 16:11-21) or Elisah feeding the people with twenty barley loaves with food left over ( 2 Kings 4:42-44).

This story highlights:

1. unity can be achieved through sharing food as they sit on the grass and eat together.
2. the similarity with the Last Supper in that Jesus takes the bread and fish, blesses God, breaks the loaves and gives it to the disciples to give to the people.
3. the abundance of God in that there was plenty of food left over, one large basketful for each of the twelve to take and share with still more people.

This story shows through Mark’s account that Jesus brings wholeness of life.  He feeds the crowd from the little his disciples had. Mark does not mention the surprise or wonderment that the people may have experienced, unlike that in the healing stories. He leaves this to our own imagination.

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?
• Reflect on the keywords in this passage for they contain the substance and purpose of all the things Jesus said and did-
• Consider the compassion of Jesus for the people with the readiness of the disciples to send them away. How is my relationship with Jesus as a disciple  in the light of this Gospel passage.
• Reflect on the ways that this sharing of such little food among so many symbolizes the mystery of the Eucharist.
• Consider the people who sat down on the grass to eat. Try to enter into something of their feelings.  
• Ponder on the times Jesus has provided abundantly for me from the little I had.  
• Reflect on the attitude of the disciples as they desired initially to sent the people away but were pivotal in feeding the people. Reflect on times when God has allowed me to be instrumental in feeding others even though I may have been reluctant giver.
• How do I relate to this story of the feeding of the five thousand.  Make a list of areas in my life that need a change of heart and develop an action plan on how this change of heart might occur. (eg name an area and name one/two changes that you will implement with God's help.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (6:30-44).
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?