Summary: Jesus, moved by compassion for a crowd following him for three days without food, miraculously fed about four thousand people with just seven loaves and a few fish. After ensuring everyone was satisfied and collecting seven baskets of leftovers, he and his disciples departed for Dalmanutha, highlighting his care and miraculous ability to provide.
Gospel Acclamation: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4b)
In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.”
His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?”
Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”
They replied, “Seven.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people.
He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
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