They ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets.
There were about four thousand people.
MARK 8:8-9
The Lord feeds you abundantly. With His grace and His mercy, He satisfies your every need and fills your heart with peace. With His word and His spirit, He nourishes your soul with truth and guides you in His ways. With His love and His kindness, He showers you with blessings and makes you a blessing. With His power and His glory, He works wonders in your life and invites you to His kingdom. Accept Jesus' miracle today. He loves you more than words can say. He is the light that shines your way. He heals your wounds and makes you whole. He fills your spirit and your soul.
1 In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, 2 “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” 4 His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” 5 Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” 6 He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. 7 They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. 8 They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets. 9 There were about four thousand people. He dismissed them 10 and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha. (Mark 8:1-10)
The Lord is the one true God alone. He created all things by His word and sustains all things by His power. He reveals Himself to His own, speaks to us through His Son, and dwells in us through His Spirit. You should have no other gods before Him. Do not turn your trust and faith to idols. They are nothing but the work of human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear, noses but cannot smell. They are powerless to help you in your troubles nor heal you from your diseases. They cannot bless you with prosperity, nor comfort you in your grief. They will only lead you astray from the one true living God. He is the one who made you and loves you, the one who hears you and answers you.
26 Jeroboam thought to himself: “The kingdom will return to David’s house. 27 If now this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, the hearts of this people will return to their master, Rehoboam, king of Judah, and they will kill me.” 28 After taking counsel, the king made two calves of gold and said to the people: “You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough. Here is your God, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” 29 And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan. 30 This led to sin, because the people frequented these calves in Bethel and in Dan. 31 He also built temples on the high places and made priests from among the people who were not Levites. 32 Jeroboam established a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month to duplicate in Bethel the pilgrimage feast of Judah, with sacrifices to the calves he had made; and he stationed in Bethel priests of the high places he had built. 13:33 Jeroboam did not give up his evil ways after this, but again made priests for the high places from among the common people. Whoever desired it was consecrated and became a priest of the high places. 34 This was a sin on the part of the house of Jeroboam for which it was to be cut off and destroyed from the earth. (1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34)
The Lord has done great things and wondrous deeds over your life. He has rescued you from darkness and strife. He has delivered you from many trials and tribulations and brought you out of the pit of despair. He has forgiven you of all your sins and made you a new creation within. He has given you a purpose and a hope, equipped you with gifts and talents, and empowered you with His Spirit and His grace. He has surrounded you with His love and care, provided for your every need, and protected you from every snare. He has promised you a glorious future and has prepared a place for you in heaven and guaranteed you a place in His kingdom. Never forget what God has done for you.
6 We have sinned, we and our fathers; we have committed crimes; we have done wrong. 7 Our fathers in Egypt considered not your wonders. (R) 19 They made a calf in Horeb and adored a molten image; 20 they exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bullock. (R) 21 They forgot the God who had saved them, who had done great deeds in Egypt, 22 wondrous deeds in the land of Ham, terrible things at the Red Sea. (Psalm 106:6-7, 19-20, 21-22)
Lord Jesus, moved with pity, love, and compassion. You have indeed fed us abundantly with food that is overflowing. You have satisfied us and made our joy full and complete. Please continue to be with us and be the center of our lives. Help us not to look and entrust our faith to idols but instead always remember all the great things and wondrous deeds that You continue to do for us each moment of our lives. Thank You so much for being the light that shines my way each day, healing my wounds and making me whole. All glory, honor, and praise are Yours now and forever. Amen.
Pericope:
II: The Mystery of Jesus
THE FEEDING OF THE FOUR THOUSAND
Mark 8:1-10
II: Judah and Israel to the Time of Ahab
RELIGIOUS REBELLION / MESSAGE OF THE PROPHET FROM JUDAH
1 Kings 12:26-32 / 1-34
Fourth Book of Psalms 90-106
ISRAEL'S CONFESSION OF SIN
Psalm 106:1-22
