John 6:8-9 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?”
“I doubt that.” Those were hardly the words I expected to hear. Having told the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand with what I thought was great skill, I had envisioned this table of five-year olds beaming at me in wonder, marveling at the miracle I had just described.
Instead, no less than the rector’s son folded his arms, cocked his head, and announced that he wasn’t buying any of it. I didn’t know what to say.
Given that this boy is now a priest himself, I’m guessing he eventually came to terms with the story he found so far-fetched as a child.
Some explain this event logically: Influenced by the child’s example, others began pulling out their own food to share. Some believe Jesus took those loaves and fishes and literally multiplied them for the crowd.
My own take is different still. What if the point of the story is that a philosophy of abundance rather than scarcity wins the day? What if it means that there truly is enough to go around?
MOVING FORWARD: Does every detail in this story have to be true in order for you to believe it?
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