98. The Miraculous Feeding of Four Thousand People. Mt. 15:32–38; Mk. 8:1–9

At that time, when a great multitude had gathered and had nothing to eat, the Lord Jesus, calling His disciples to Him, said to them: I have compassion on the multitude, because they have been with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not wish to send them away without food, lest they become faint on the way. And if I send them away fasting to their homes, they will become weak on the way, for some of them have come from far away. His disciples answered Him: Where can we find enough loaves in the wilderness to feed such a multitude? The Lord Jesus asked them: How many loaves do you have? They said: Seven, and a few small fishes.

Then the Lord commanded the people to recline on the ground. And taking seven loaves and giving thanks, He broke them and gave them to His disciples, and the disciples distributed them to the people. Then He took the fish, and blessing them, commanded them to be distributed as well.

And all ate and were filled, and they collected the leftover fragments—seven baskets full. And those who ate were about four thousand, or four thousand people, besides women and children. And the Lord sent them away.