What Are They Among So Many?

The Story

A huge crowd had followed Jesus to a hillside near the Sea of Galilee. They had seen Him heal the sick, and they wanted more. By the end of the day there were five thousand men, plus women and children, and they were hungry.

Jesus turned to Philip and asked, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” He already knew what He was going to do. He was testing Philip.

Philip did the math. “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them,” he said. That was about eight months of wages, and it still wouldn’t be enough for each person to get a little.

Then Andrew spoke up. “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes.” Barley bread was the food of poor people. It was a boy’s lunch. And even Andrew added, “But what are they among so many?”

Jesus told everyone to sit down on the grass. He took the loaves, gave thanks, and handed out the bread, then the fish, as much as anyone wanted. When everyone was full, He told the disciples to gather what was left so nothing would be wasted. They filled twelve baskets with leftovers.

Reflection