Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

January 06, 2026 Tuesday after Epiphany
Daily Readings: 1 John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44
 

Children of God: the story of the popular bread, pandesal, is deeply woven into Philippine history. Introduced during the Spanish period, pandesal became the bread of ordinary people—simple, affordable, and shared at the start of the day. Even now, in many religious gatherings like Simbang Gabi and Misa de Gallo, pandesal is almost always present. After the dawn Mass, people gather not only for prayer but also for fellowship, holding warm pandesal in their hands. It is humble bread, but it carries memories of community, generosity, and care.

In the gospel story of feeding the 5,000 people, Jesus sees a great crowd and His heart is moved with compassion, “because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). Before performing any miracle, Jesus first teaches them. This detail is important: compassion begins with presence. Jesus does not dismiss the hungry crowd nor spiritualize their needs. He sees their hunger—both of the soul and of the body.

When evening comes, the disciples suggest sending the people away. Jesus responds with a challenge: “Give them some food yourselves” (Mark 6:37). All they have are five loaves and two fish. In human terms, it is clearly not enough. Yet Jesus takes what is offered, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it back to be shared. The miracle begins not with abundance, but with trust and willingness.

The feeding of the five thousand shows that God’s power works through what we are ready to place in His hands. When bread is hoarded, it remains small. When bread is shared, it multiplies. The crowd eats and is satisfied, and twelve baskets of fragments remain (Mark 6:42–43). This is not only about physical food, but about a way of living where generosity overcomes fear of scarcity.

Children of God: Pandesal reminds us that God often uses ordinary things to accomplish extraordinary grace. Like the loaves in the gospel, what we have may seem small, but when offered with compassion, it becomes enough. May we learn to see hunger around us, to share what we have, and to trust that God can multiply even our simplest gifts.