The Feeding of the Four Thousand (Mk. 8:1-10)

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, he 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?” “Seven,” they replied. 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.

The feeding of the four thousand (Mk. 8:1-10) has similarities with and differences from the feeding of the five thousand (Mk. 6:35-44).  They are regarded by many theologians as two different accounts of the same Eucharistic gathering.  The early Church understood them as the giving of the bread of life to both Jews and Gentiles.  The three elements of the miracles are: God feeds his people in the wilderness; all are fed at the Messianic Banquet; they are fed in anticipation of the Eucharist (Mk. 14:22; Jn. 6:51).  

Mark’s account of the feeding of the four thousand took place in the predominately Gentile region of the Decapolis, a group of ten cities on the eastern border of the Roman Empire in Judea and Syria.  The seven loaves and the seven baskets of fragments have often been understood as a reference to the Gentile mission.  Jesus was compassionate towards the crowd because they followed him and were without food for three days (v. 2).  In OT times, a three-day journey frequently preceded a significant event (Ex. 3:18).  The disciples’ reference to “bread” and “this deserted place” would remind the reader of manna in the desert (Ex. 16).  Those who persevere and follow Jesus will never be sent away hungry (v. 3).  The Gentiles were far away from God and have come a great distance towards God (Eph. 2:11-12).  The objection of the disciples was strange considering they were with Jesus for the feeding of the five thousand.  Jesus’ four Eucharistic actions - he took the loaves, gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to be distributed (Mk. 14:22).  

Almighty God, you gave us manna from heaven so that we could eat it and never die.  In your mercy teach us to live the life you put within us for the glory of your kingdom and to share the goodness of your love with all.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.