5b. 25000 LOAVES OF BREAD AND 10000 FISHES (Mark 6: 30-44)
Background: The leader of the group may show on the map the scene of this miraculous feeding opposite Bethsaida (45) and count how many kilometres it is from there to the most important towns in Galilee. Note that it was Jesus’ and his disciples’ intention to rest during this voyage (31-32).
1. What will usually become of a person who is so busy that he has no time to eat (31)?
What might the disciples have thought when they saw the crowd on the shore waiting for Jesus (32-33)?
Why didn’t Jesus get nervous of this crowd even though he lost his day off (34)?
2. When Jesus had finished his speech it was late in the afternoon. In what kind of mood do you think the disciples were at that time of the day?
3. Five rolls and two fishes meant a meal for one person. How much would a lunch like that cost in our local currency?
How many villages should one approximately have scoured before one would have been able to produce a meal for 5000 people: 25000 rolls and 10000 fishes?
4. Why did Jesus say to his disciples: ”You give them something to eat”(37)?
What should the disciples have answered to this order of Jesus?
5. Where did the disciples get the courage to do like Jesus said (39)?
Did the people believe in getting food when they sat down on the grass and if they believed, where did they think it came from (40)?
6. Reflect on different reasons why believers in our times are not always too interested in feeding the hungry of the world?
Where are the hungry whom Jesus would like you to feed today?
7. Do you believe that Jesus can multiply 5000 times the (even scanty) presents which you give to him?
GLAD TIDINGS: After having performed this miracle Jesus said: ”I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live for ever. This bread which I will give is my flesh” (Jn 6:51). When dying on the Cross Jesus became our sacramental bread and bread for eternal life (by believing in Jesus’ death on the Cross we have eternal life).
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