Gospel
John 6:1-15 (NRSV)
1 After this Jesus went to the other side
of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A
large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that
he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus went up the mountain and sat
down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the festival
of the Jews, was near. 5 When he looked up and saw a large crowd
coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to
buy bread for these people to eat?" 6 He said this to test
him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered
him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each
of them to get a little." 8 One 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?" 10 Jesus 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. 11 Then 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. 12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather
up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost."
13 So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five
barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve
baskets. 14 When 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."
15 When 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.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.