Lenten Reader | Day 17

March 9th, 2026

During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”

“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied.

He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

Mark 8:1-13

I Have Compassion

I am thankful (Oops! This is Easter not Thanksgiving). But I am truly thankful for shows like “The Chosen” and the Angel series “Testament” that portray Jesus’ followers and to some extent Jesus, as typical people just like you and I. We are all tempted to say and/or think things that don't reflect Jesus’ thoughts.

Today’s passage is an amazing account. One of many miracles shared in God’s Word. But I wonder what the disciples were thinking. Read verse 4 again. Two familiar quotes come to my mind.  The first, by Reverend H.K. Williams, “He who fails to plan, is planning to fail.” The second, I hear a lot. Bob Carter says, “Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.” There had to be at least one of Jesus’ inner circle thinking, “Why is it my responsibility to feed all these people? They knew how much food they packed. They should have gone home yesterday.” But that really doesn’t mirror the heart of Christ. Jesus said, “I feel compassion for the people.”

It doesn’t matter how people get into their predicament. It doesn’t matter how impossible we think it is to fix. It doesn’t even matter if people realize they’re in a predicament. What matters is that we, in faith, come along side of people and be a reflection of heaven.

Have you seen a reflection on the still water when it’s hard to discern where the water stops and the reflection begins?  Reflections are seen best in the stillness, not the waves. We worry, stress, and plan, when all along, we’d be better off being still and reflecting Jesus. 

Lord, thank you for the beauty of reflections. Still my heart and soul, so that I become a better reflection of you.

Tami Daly