The disciples object to Jesus’ command they feed the people on the hillside themselves. But Jesus is having nothing of it. He gives them a further command:

‘Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.’ Luke 9:14

Today you are invited to consider the logistics of this conversation. We are told there were 5000 men there – and there would have been women and children too. A group of 50 is quite a big group of people. And there would have been 100 groups if just the men sat in such numbers. Today you are invited to consider how you would have felt if Jesus had said this to you. People were hungry and tired and a long way from home. Now this bunch of men – followers of Jesus, admittedly, but not too different from the people in the crowd – were trying to get them all to sit down. How would you have felt about asking them to do a seemingly pointless thing? What would you have said? How would you have responded to their objections? How do you respond to people who object when you speak about Jesus and His command to follow Him? What similarities are there? How do you need Jesus to help you in such situations?

May God bless you with the gift of His wisdom and words when you deal with people who are reluctant to listen about Him and to hear the Good News of the Gospel.