Sunday - The Gospel According To Mark

Welcome to Daily Prayer. Today we see Jesus, once again in a wilderness place and he’s moved with compassion for the hungry crowd. He provides bread in the wilderness revealing his heart to satisfy both body and soul.

As we begin our time together, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the LORD.

Lord Jesus, you are the Bread of Life.

You know my needs before I speak them.

Be gracious to me today and may your grace be on all those I love

Lord, I turn to you and give everyone and everything to you.

My Lord and My God, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.

A Scripture Reading from Mark 8:1–10

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” 4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” 5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

The similarities between the 5,000 and 4,000 are striking. Jesus looks on a weary, hungry crowd and says, “I have compassion on the crowd.” Once again, his followers feel the impossibility of the situation. “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” and once again, Jesus starts with what they have: “How many loaves do you have?”

He takes seven loaves and a few small fish, gives thanks, breaks, and gives them to the disciples to distribute. Everyone is satisfied and there is more left over than they started with. In this second feeding miracle, likely among Gentiles, Jesus reveals that his compassion and provision overflow beyond Israel. 

He is the Lord who feeds in the desert, who satisfies those who have walked with him “from far away,” and who invites his disciples to participate as he meets the needs they could never meet on their own.

A Prayer of Adoration

Lord Jesus, we adore you as the One whose heart is moved with compassion. You see the crowds. you see every person in the crowd. You notice those who have been with you a long time. You notice those who have come from far away. You do not send people away hungry. 

Lord, you are the true Bread in the wilderness. The One who gives thanks, breaks, and gives until all are satisfied. We worship you as the Lord who provides more than enough.

A Prayer of Confession

Forgive us Lord when we look at the needs around us and immediately say, “How can anyone feed these people here?” 

Forgive us when we focus more on the desolate place than on your compassionate heart. Lord, Forgive us when we hoard what we have, acting as if our “seven loaves” are too small to matter. 

Lord, forgive us when we forget your past faithfulness. Lord, we confess our doubt. We confess our reluctance to offer you what we have. Have mercy on us, Lord and renew our faith.

A Prayer of Trust

Jesus, we trust that you notice when we are close to fainting on the way. We trust that you are able to satisfy us and those we love even in the wilderness. Even when we feel we have very little to offer. Lord, we rest in your compassion and love today.

A Prayer of Intercession

Lord, we pray that you would strengthen everyone who feel like they might “faint on the way.” Lord, thank you for all the things that you have provided for us. Those things that have been blessed and broken on our behalf. Lord, you intend for your disciples to distribute what you have provided. Give us faith, courage, compassion and love to spread the bread that you have given. That you have multiplied. That you have provided. Give us eyes to see. Give us faith to believe. Lord, let our community be a place where your compassion is seen, and felt, and shared. May our satisfaction be in you. 

As we listen to the passage again, let’s listen for what this passage reveals about Jesus. and for a word or phrase the Holy Spirit may want to highlight for us today.

 In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” 4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” 5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha

Let’s pray the Lord’s Prayer together as we close:

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread and

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever

amen