Proper 24 (GA)

Matthew 14:13-21
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Mt 14:13-21). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Disciples always seem a little more sensible than other people to myself. Even here they urge Jesus to send the crowds away so that they can buy food for themselves. This has been a long conference and there is not money in the budget to pay for a banquet. One might even add, it is a desolate place and food here would cost way too much. Just think of the price of a hot dog at a NFL or MLB game.

But Jesus simply responds that you need to feed these people. Take from what little you have and feed these people. I don't care how much you think you have. This is about how much I can give you. We often think of the practical matters and forget the great power of God. This is God in the flesh the one by whom all things were created. As John says, "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Jesus looked up into heaven giving thanks to his Father. Jesus blesses the food for the use of satisfying the crowds. Jesus then brakes bread and feeds the disciples and the crowd of more than 5,000 people. This is not a matter of practical things it is a matter of Godly things. Jesus is our bread giver and has had mercy upon his people.