His disciples answered him, "Where can anyone get enough bread
to satisfy them here in this deserted place?"
Still he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"
They replied, "Seven."
Mark 8:4-5
I remember talking with someone who said they were at a potluck supper and the food was delicious with meats and salads and desserts.. He described the dessrts and said that surprisingly to him, one of the most eaten and enjoyed was...Jello! He thought next to the cakes and cookies, that the Jello was a simple and low cost alternative. I asked him if he has ever made Jello. He said he had not. It may not cost alot to buy the box of powdered Jello mix, but it takes some effort to make it properly. You need to mix ice cold water with almost boiling how water and then allow it to set. I made peanut butter cookies the other say stirring the mix in about 5 minutes and the cooking time was 10 minutes.
I think he appreciated the Jello dessert a little more knowing how much time and effort it takes. With the Gospel verse for today, bread is a basic element of many people's everyday eating, and there are so many easily accessible kinds of bread, I think it is easy to overlook the importance of the message here. So Jesus had a little bread and shared it. Hmmm Jesus fed thousands with the bread that He broke and shared just as is done at every Mass around the world today. Can you enjoy a piece of bread today or perhaps even some Jello, and thank God for all of His gifts? In the upcoming Lenten season, I hope we can come up with creative ways to share the message of Love and Love that God has given us through His Son, Jesus.
