Opening Game
Loaves and Fishes Challenge
Materials Needed:
- Five saltine crackers per person
- Two Swedish fish per person
Instructions:
- Give each youth five saltine crackers and two Swedish fish.
- Explain that they have to eat all the crackers and fish.
- No sips of water are allowed during the challenge.
- The first person to finish wins.
Follow up with a couple of questions:
- What do you think our focus is today? Encourage answers that might touch on themes of food, eating, or a Bible story involving bread and fish.
- What gave it away? Prompt them to think about the connection between the crackers and fish to the story of Jesus feeding the multitude.
This activity not only serves as an icebreaker but also sets the stage for deeper reflection and discussion about the miracle of the loaves and fishes and its significance in Catholic teaching, especially regarding the Eucharist.
Scripture Reading
As you might have guessed, we are talking about the feeding of the multitude today, especially as it relates to the Eucharist.
Let’s read the gospel of the day:
John 6:1-15 (Jesus feeds the multitude with five loaves and two fish) – the Gospel Reading for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.”
One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”
Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”
So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.John 6:1-15
Discussion
So there is a huge crowd and they are far from any town where people might get food for themselves. But the people so want to hear what Jesus has to say. They are hanging on every word.
- Have you ever been so engaged in something that you forgot to eat?
But there is an young boy who has five loaves and two fish.
- Why do you think he brought the food?
- Do you think he planning to sell it and make a little profit?
- Was it the food his family brought? If so, what would his family say when he gave it away in an act of generosity?
The truth is, we don’t know much about this young boy with a few meager supplies. But what we do know is that Jesus took what little he had to offer and fed a whole lot of people.
That is what Jesus does every time he gives Himself to us in the Eucharist at Mass. We offer Him a little bread and wine. Maybe we even offer Him our voice in prayer or song. Hopefully we offer Him a little of our attention.
In return, Jesus gathers us around His table. He unites Himself completely with us by feeding us His own body and blood. He gives us unity with each other also. He also feeds us with his word, and equips us to go out into the world and bring others to Him.
- What do you offer at Mass? Might it be possible to offer more of yourself?
- What do you receive in return? How does our Lord feed you?
The feeding of the multitude is a mystery. We don’t have all of the details. We don’t know anything about the little boy who provided the loaves and fishes. And while we know that Jesus performed a miracle, we don’t know what that miracle looked like. Did the baskets refill themselves? Did something else happen?
In the same way, the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is a mystery. When the host is presented to us at Mass, and the minister says “The body of Christ”, we must look with the eyes of faith. The same is true when we go to adoration. We kneel before the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance. Without faith, this would seem strange. But if we can take Jesus at His word, when at the last supper He says “This is my body”, then it is natural. Consider what Pope Benedict has said:
In the Eucharist, the Son of God comes to meet us and desires to become one with us; eucharistic adoration is simply the natural consequence of the eucharistic celebration, which is itself the Church’s supreme act of adoration.Pope Benedict XVI
If possible, have someone you trust give a personal testimony of their experience of the Eucharist and how it has changed them.
Small Group Reflection Questions
Following the large group discussion, small groups encourage personal reflection and sharing, helping youth to connect the lesson with their own experiences and deepen their understanding and faith.
- Can you share a time when you gave something small and it made a big difference? How did it make you feel?
- How does this relate to the boy offering his loaves and fish to Jesus?
- What are some areas in your life where you need to trust Jesus more?
- How can you practice trusting Jesus with the little you have, just like the boy in the story?
- What do you think it means when we say Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist?
- How does the miracle of the loaves and fishes help you understand the Eucharist better?
- What do you usually think about during Mass? How can you focus more on the Eucharist?
- How can you prepare your heart better to receive Jesus in the Eucharist?
Challenge
As we wrap up this lesson, let’s think about how we approach the Eucharist at Mass. Just as we don’t fully understand what happened during the miracle of the loaves and fishes, we also don’t fully understand why Jesus chose to provide for us through the Eucharist. But our faith tells us that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.
When you are at Mass this week, try to approach the Eucharist through the eyes of faith. Instead of focusing on understanding everything with your mind, spend some time absorbing His love with your heart. Jesus is there, offering Himself to you in a very real and personal way.
Take a moment during Mass to reflect on what we have learned. Think about the miracle of the loaves and fishes and how Jesus used a small offering to feed many. Remember that Jesus continues to feed us with His own body and blood in the Eucharist. Let this truth fill you with awe and gratitude. Trust in His presence and let His love nourish your soul.
Prayer
If possible, end the lesson by spending some time in adoration or praying before the tabernacle. This is a special way to conclude our lesson on the Eucharist and the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
If you have access to a chapel with Eucharistic Adoration, take the group there. Explain that Adoration is a time to be in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Encourage everyone to sit quietly and open their hearts to Jesus. You can guide them with these simple steps:
If Adoration is not available, gather the group in front of the tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is kept. Explain that Jesus is present in the tabernacle and we can pray to Him there. Lead them through these steps:
End with a short time of silent prayer, inviting everyone to listen to Jesus in their hearts. Conclude with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Encourage the youth to continue reflecting on what they learned and to approach the Eucharist with faith and love in the future.
This time of prayer helps reinforce the lesson and provides a meaningful way to connect with Jesus. It allows the youth to experience His presence and love in a personal and powerful way.
More Resources
More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections
For more resources, see https://young-catholics.com/9955/loaves-and-fishes-eucharist-lesson-plan/