The gospel for Saturday of the fifth week in ordinary time is taken from Mark, eighth chapter, first through the tenth verse. In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, my heart is moved with pity for the crowd because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way. And some of them have come a great distance. His disciples answered him, where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place? Still, he asked them, how many loaves do you have?
They replied, seven. He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks, broke them, gave them to the disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over seven baskets, and they were about 4,000 people. He dismissed the crowds and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanusa. This is the only miracle that is found in all four of the Gospels. And what it is, is God caring for the physical needs of those who long to follow him. And when we think about it, we think maybe we’re not supposed to pray for things like, you know, food or money or a better house or whatever. But there’s nothing wrong with asking God to give us the things that enable us to live the life that we long to live for Him.
And it’s all right to pray for things that are material. That’s the world we live in. That’s the world Jesus recognizes as something that he wants to be, a source of caring for our needs. Expect him to do that. Trust in him to answer your prayers. Foreign.
Closing Prayer Father, we are spiritual beings, but we are also physical beings that live in this world. Help us to know that you’re interested in caring for us in both areas. You want us to grow as a spiritual being capable of doing your work, and you want us to be comfortable and to live in a place that honors our dignity and our worth. And we ask this in Jesus name, amen.
