FIVE BARLEY LOAVES AND TWO FISH

Sunday's lection, which has parallels in Mark, Luke, and John, has Jesus telling his disciples to feed the hungry multitude. His disciples make up excuses: send the crowd away; let them feed themselves; we don't have enough funds to address the situation.

Their excuses sound so much like our excuses today.

In John's version, a young child, possibly 12 years old or younger, offers what he has: five barley loaves and two fish. And the miracle of feeding of the 5000 begins. There is a tradition that says. "Barley tastes good... to cows, sheep, and horses!" The poor, the anawim, ate barley. It was all they could afford. The rich had storehouses of wheat, and fattened themselves with it.

Do not forget this. Ever. The barley loaves and the fish that led to the feeding of the POOR, HUNGRY multitude were offered by a POOR, HUNGRY child. Many times, God's liberating acts begin when one-- just one we usually do not expect-- takes that step forward, that leap of faith, that offering of bread and fish.

*art, "Jesus multiplies the loaves and fish," (JESUS MAFA) from vanderbilt divinity library digital archives.