¹After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. ²A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. ³Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. ⁴Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. ⁵When 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?” ⁶He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. ⁷Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” ⁸One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ⁹“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” ¹⁰Jesus 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. ¹¹Then 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. ¹²When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” ¹³So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. ¹⁴When 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.”

¹⁵When 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.

¹⁶When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, ¹⁷got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. ¹⁸The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. ¹⁹When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. ²⁰But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” ²¹Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going.

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
• As you breathe, allow the breath to fill you abundantly.
• Feel each part of your body become filled with the breath from head to toe.
• Become aware of the fresh oxygen awakening, nurturing, feeding your body.
• Imagine sitting with the five thousand.  You see the boy with five barley loaves and two fish.  You know this will not be enough.
• Yet you witness the abundance to feed five thousand with leftovers.
• How does it feel to be filled in abundance with holy food?
• What response in Christ arises in you?
• Imagine gathering the leftovers.
• Who is hungry and needs to be fed?
• Imagine getting in the boat to take the food to those who are hungry.
• Yet a strong wind spoils the plan and you are afraid.
• What fear arises in you?
• What fear(s) are you encountering in your life today?
• Jesus says, “It is I, do not be afraid.”
• Hear these words as you come back to your breath. Allow these words to be in the oxygen flowing throughout your body.  Do not be afraid.
• Let go of your fear so you may be able to receive the abundance Christ has to give to you.
• What is Christ’s message for you?
• Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.