“The Passover was near”

a second take on John 6:1-13

The feeding of the five thousand, by John Reilly (1928-2010). 
Internet image.

by Magdalena I. García

The Passover was near

as they gathered on the hill

and noticed a large crowd.

The Passover was near

as they pondered the responsibility

of feeding so many mouths.

The Passover was near

as they noticed the amiability

of an obscure boy in the crowd.

The Passover was near

as they recognized the availability

of simple gifts of bread and fish.

The Passover was near

as they considered the possibility

of inviting the people to sit down.

The Passover was near

as they thanked God with humility

for the miracle of a shared feast.

The Passover was near

as they distributed with agility

the elements of the meal.

The Passover was near

as they worried about sustainability

and gathered up the fragments.

But when the fearful disciples

could only see the liability

of looking after so many mouths

then the Passover was far.

The great festival of liberation

is always accessible, close-at-hand, nearby

for those who are no longer enslaved

by an apathetic, selfish heart.

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