This week, we're wondering about this Gospel reading: Matthew 14:13-21
Jesus rode in a boat to go to a deserted place, to be alone for a while. But while he was traveling, the crowds followed along on shore, so that when Jesus got off the boat, he was surrounded by people, after all: over 5000 men, plus women, and children, too. Jesus felt compassion for them, and gave up his plan to be alone. He spent the day healing sick people, for hours.
Finally, at suppertime, the disciples came to Jesus, worried about all those hungry people. They were out in the middle of nowhere, with no place to buy food nearby, and not enough money, anyway. The disciples told Jesus that he should send everyone away.
Jesus told the disciples no. He told them, "You give them something to eat." But all there was, were two cooked fish and five loaves of bread, someone's picnic.
Jesus took the basket of bread and fish. He told everyone to sit down. He looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the bread. Jesus gave the loaves and fishes to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowd.
And everybody ate until they were filled up. After supper, when the disciples gathered up the leftovers, there were twelve baskets full of extra pieces.