Bread
By Debbonnaire Kovacs, posted July 22, 2015
A round-up of “what-if?” snippets inspired by John 6:1-21
Philip: You’re asking me?! How should I know where we can get bread for this mob? Six months’ wages wouldn’t be enough, and I doubt we have that much amongst the bunch of us! … Well…okay, sure…I can help get them all to sit down…I guess. That will take a while, I must say. Okay, folks, listen up! We’re all going to sit down. Sit down, come on, hey, you kids—sit down! Quiet! Why? I don’t know, because Jesus said so. Sir, can you get your family to sit together right over here between these rocks and those trees? If you women could just keep the kids under control!…
Boy: Here, sir. I brought my lunch. Yeah, I know, it’s not much, but there’s some fish in there, and bread. Mom made it fresh this morning. She’d like me to share.
Andrew: Um, Jesus? Here’s a boy who wants to share his lunch. It’s just two fish and five pitas. I don’t know how much use it’s going to be. (Silently, to himself: It’s amazing the way he always is with kids! You’d think this boy just brought him King Herod’s entire winter food supply!)
A Pharisee: Hmph! Here we go again, I suppose this charlatan thinks he’s going to fool me! Maybe this rabble can be hypnotized into forgetting they’re hungry, but I’m wise to him! I’m going to keep my eyes glued to him to see what he’s trying to pull. Hey! Let go of me, you son of a Samaritan! No, I’m not going to sit down! How dare you speak to me like that?
A mother: Hush, now, I know you’re hungry. We’ll go home soon. I still have a little of the lentils from yesterday…shhh…Let’s sit down. Jesus wants us to, and I don’t want to miss a word he says. Yes, sir, we’ll be fine right here. Thank you. I’m sorry the baby is fussy. I’ll try to keep her quiet.
A beggar: Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m used to being hungry. Really. I hardly notice any more. Sure, I’ll sit. Something about that guy—I just like to be near him…
Jesus:
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam,
Hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz.
(Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Ruler of the Universe,
Who has brought forth bread from the earth.)
Bread! Passing, breaking, sharing, here, have some fish, yes, there’s more, don’t worry. Make sure that man over there gets some, here, honey, shhh, you can have all you need…Sir? Here you go. Take this basket. Oh, no, we have plenty, pass it on…
Philip: You’d think I’d learn!
Boy: Wait till I tell my mom!!
Andrew: I knew he could do something, but I never thought—oh, my!…
Pharisee: I’m not touching it! It’s probably filthy with magic spells or something, or would turn to dust in my hands! I’m going to report this!
Mother: I wonder if I should save some of this? Maybe I can hide some in my cloak. Is anybody looking? We might not get more any time soon…
Beggar: (laughing joyously) Plenty! Plenty! Look at this, can you believe it? Here you go, have more. Hey, over there—did you get enough? Here you go, here’s another basket. Sonny, you can have mine—there’s more where this came from. Praise the Most High God!
Jesus: It is I, do not be afraid.
