An Encounter: 5 loaves and 2 fishes

Perhaps everyone of you are already familiar in this story. Probably you even heard it a thousand times. This gospel account appeared in the four synoptic gospels: Mark, Matthew, Luke and John. This is the only miracle of Jesus that can be seen reflected in those four gospels. But have you ever wonder where these 5 loaves and two fishes came from? When the apostles learned that it was already getting dark, they asked Jesus to dismiss the people and tell them to go to the near village so that they can buy their food for themselves because their money was not enough to feed all of the five thousand men. Right! Five thousand men not including the numbers of women and children. Unfortunately, Jesus instead of dismissing the crowd compelled his apostles to produce food for them.

Now, here came the 5 loaves and two fishes. From whom? From a boy. Amidst the number of the crowds, only from a boy came these humble gifts. It was stated in the Gospel of John that these food came from a little boy who was assisted by Andrew to Jesus. "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" (Jn.6:9). A boy presenting his food.

Who was this boy? What was he doing with the crowd? How young he was? Honestly, it was not stated in the four gospels about the information of this boy. Most likely his parents were with him just like the other crowd who wanted to know more about Jesus; wanted to see what kind of man He was; and more certainly, the first encounter of the boy with Jesus; face to face, probably a foot away from each other. But no conversation recorded. Jesus just asked the people to sit down and then took the food.

I happened to hear a song from a Singaporean singer/composer entitled “5 loaves and 2 fishes”. The song showed the story of that boy before he brought his food to Jesus; the story before his encounter with Jesus. Who would have thought what was in the mind of that boy when he freely gave his food? What did he felt when Jesus looked into his eyes while receiving his gifts?

The little boy gave his food not knowing that Jesus will perform a miracle and multiply it. Even Andrew expressed his doubt of how will these little gifts can feed a thousand people. Yet, this boy generously handed his food to Jesus. And the miracle happened. An encounter with Jesus that perhaps lasted only a couple of minutes. No conversation was made but the surrendering act of the boy of what he has greatly manifested. Remember the crowd was all hungry and there was no food to find. The boy can freely hide this food for him and for his family consumption only. But he did what for him was right. Even if he too was not sure what can it do but he knew to himself that he should do it. His little act became the source of one of the greatest miracles in the bible.

This encounter showed that in giving there is really no gift that is too small. We should take away our fears, our reservations that hinder us to give freely. Let us be imitators of this child; of his act.