90. The Miraculous Feeding of Five Thousand. Mt. 14:14–23; Mk. 6:34–46; Lk. 9:11–17; Jn. 6:3–15

Having crossed over to the other side, the Lord Jesus went up into a mountain and there sat with His disciples.

And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was at hand.

The Lord Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a great multitude was coming to Him, was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep having no shepherd, and, going out to them, began to teach them, and taught much, discoursing with them about the Kingdom of God; and then He healed their sick and healed all who needed healing.

Thus much time passed, and the day began to draw toward evening. When evening came, His twelve disciples came to Him and said: The place is desolate, and the time is already late; send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and hamlets to lodge and get themselves food, buying bread; for they have nothing to eat, because we are here in a desolate place.

The Lord Jesus said to them: They do not need to go; you give them something to eat. And, turning to Philip, He asked: Where shall we buy bread, so that they may eat? But He said this to test him; for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him: Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for them, to give each a little. Then the other Apostles also said to Him: Shall we go and buy bread for two hundred denarii and give them to eat?

But He asked them: How many loaves do you have here? Go and see. They went and found out. And one of them, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to Him: There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fishes; but what is that among so many? For there were about five thousand men. The others also said the same: We have here only five loaves and two fishes.

Then the Lord Jesus said to His disciples: Bring them to Me here; and command the people to recline and seat them in rows of fifty. There was much grass in that place; and the Lord commanded them to seat all the people in companies upon the green grass. They did so and seated them all upon the grass. And they all reclined in rows of a hundred and of fifty.

Then the Lord Jesus, taking the five loaves and the two fishes and looking up to heaven, blessed them and, giving thanks, began to break the loaves and to give them to His disciples, and the disciples distributed them to those who were reclining; and likewise He divided the two fishes among all, as much as they wished. And they all ate, and were satisfied.

And when they were satisfied, the Lord said to His disciples: Gather up the broken pieces that are left over, so that nothing is wasted. They gathered and filled twelve baskets with the broken pieces from the five barley loaves and from the fishes, which remained with those who had eaten. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Then the people who saw the miracle which the Lord Jesus had wrought said: This is truly the Prophet, who is to come into the world.

Immediately, after gathering the loaves, the Lord Jesus constrained His disciples to enter into the boat and to go before Him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while He should dismiss the multitude.

Then, having sent the multitude away and perceiving that they wished to come suddenly and take Him and make Him king, He withdrew again into the mountain alone, to pray in solitude; and in the evening He remained there alone.