Five loaves and two fish (6)

Five loaves and two fish (6)

“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five--and two fish.”(Mark 6:38)

It looks strange that they had only five loaves and two fish when this historic incident happened in that particular place where a crowd of five thousand people gathered. In the ancient times, there was no fast food shop or hawkers. So people used to take with them food and drink wherever they go. It sounds reasonable that some people could have forgotten to carry their food but it would be highly incredible if we are given to understand that there were only five loaves and two fish with a person in the mammoth gathering. There could be a hidden fact that the author of the Bible did not wish to describe the reality. Such facts will be dealt with at length in the following meditations; and as of now I would like to point out the situation itself.

There are a great number of people but only a few did the needful work in the very hour of great need. This picture of laudable work done by a few could also be applied to the movement of the kingdom of God. Five thousand people gathered there but non of them did not have the far-sighted understanding of the impending grave need of the huge crowd. History flows in this way.

There might be some people who did not take out their food initially out of their stinginess, but mostly they did not know what exactly ‘Five loaves and two fish’ was all about. What does the “Five loaves and two fish” mean to us? What is the insignificant thing in us that could do some incredible and laudable thing for us? People may not be able to do this. Out of what we have, there is always a possibility to make it the “Five loaves and two fish”. Once it is revealed its reality at the proper place and time it could produce marvelous power.

Is it not the very Christian faith, the discerning power to bring out five loaves and two fish at the proper place and time? I hope our entire life would replete with incidents of such five loaves and two fish. I pray I may see it.