Friday 2 May 2025 - Five barley loaves and two fish

Friday 2 May 2025

Today is Friday the 2nd of May, the feast of St Athanasius, in the 2nd week of Eastertide. The monks of Pluscarden Abbey sing Laetetur cor quaerentium: Let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice; seek the Lord and be strengthened, seek his face always. Entering into prayer today, I too am seeking the Lord, seeking his face, looking for the signs of his presence in my life, gently guiding me in truth and peace and love. Laetetur cor quaerentium Dominum: quaerite Dominum, et confirmamini: quaerite faciem eius semper. Confitemini Domino, et invocate nomen ejus: annuntiate intergentes opera eius. Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John. John 6:1-15 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’ When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. Imagine today, that you are among the large crowd approaching Jesus as he is sitting with his disciples. Having heard the stories from others about how Jesus heals the sick, think for a moment what it is you seek from Jesus as you approach him in the crowd today. After a while of following and listening to Jesus you notice that you, like many others, are hungry. Watch the disciples as they consult with Jesus to try to solve this problem. Close by, you notice a small boy with a basket of loaves and a couple of fish. You see him offer his food to the disciples as they pass by. What goes through your mind as you see him giving up his lunch? The disciples take the offering to Jesus then you and those around you are asked to sit down on the grass in groups of fifty people. Watch the thousands of others also sitting in groups and listen in to the conversations of those around you as they react with their questions, perhaps laughter or complaints about their hunger or the heat. What does it feel like to be here? After a while you see Jesus take the boy’s loaves and fish and lift them high, giving thanks to God. What does Jesus look like as he does this? Next, you see the disciples coming towards you with overflowing baskets of fish and bread, plenty for everyone. As you and the others around you take the food and share lunch together, imagine the smell of the bread and the texture and taste of the fish in your mouth as your hunger is satisfied. Some around you are proclaiming, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Perhaps you can join in with the conversation. As Jesus begins to withdraw from the crowd, imagine that you rise from the grass and walk a while with him. What would you like to share with him about your experience in prayer today? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen