Mark 6:30-44
Contemplation with Scripture*
step one
I prepare myself for prayer.
I remember that God is here with me.
step two
I read the gospel story:
Jesus said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.’ But he answered them, ‘You give them something to eat.’
They said to him, ‘Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?’ And he said to them, ‘How many loaves have you? Go and see.’ When they had found out, they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’
Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand.
step three
I picture the place where the story takes place.
I ask God to speak to me through the story.
step four
I imagine that I am one of the people in the scene.
What do I see?
What do I smell?
What do I feel?
What do I taste?
What do I hear?
I remain there in the scene.
conclusion
I respond to God in my own words.
I take time to rest in God.
* Adapted from
YOU: Prayer for Beginners and Those Who Have Forgotten How
by Mark Link, S. J.