We don’t do that anymore, do we? I can’t imagine anyone close to me in these days inviting anyone in without a lot of preparation, making sure there is enough food and the house spotless. Mm, Jesus invited a few thousand to stay for a meal and somehow when he prayed the bless it to stretch it prayer…there were even leftovers. Maybe, just maybe we are missing the point of the invitation. It’s not about the meal, it’s about a relationship. Mm.

Mark 8, The Message
A Meal for Four Thousand
8 1-3 At about this same time he again found himself with a hungry crowd on his hands. He called his disciples together and said, “This crowd is breaking my heart. They have stuck with me for three days, and now they have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they’ll faint along the way—some of them have come a long distance.”

4 His disciples responded, “What do you expect us to do about it? Buy food out here in the desert?”

5 He asked, “How much bread do you have?”

“Seven loaves,” they said.

6-10 So Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the ground. After giving thanks, he took the seven bread loaves, broke them into pieces, and gave them to his disciples so they could hand them out to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He pronounced a blessing over the fish and told his disciples to hand them out as well. The crowd ate its fill. Seven sacks of leftovers were collected. There were well over four thousand at the meal. Then he sent them home. He himself went straight to the boat with his disciples and set out for Dalmanoutha.

Dear Heavenly Father, We have read this story of You many times and, once again, You give us a new, fresh perspective of the situation with more learning from the inside out of our hearts, minds and souls. Thank you. Go with us, help us focus on the most important…a relationship with You and with others that is built, not on food, but on unconditional love, mercy and grace. Help us to see others like You see them. In Jesus Name, Amen!