“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people." Mark 14: 17-19
In the verdant backdrop of "Gave Thanks," we are drawn into the moment before a miracle unfolds. The setting is a gathering of thousands, come to listen to Jesus, their collective hunger palpable in the air. It is here that a small boy’s offering of two fish and five loaves takes center stage, humbly cradled in the hands of a miracle worker.
Within the painting, these simple fish lie in a woven basket, soon to be part of a divine act. Jesus raises them heavenward, a prayer of gratitude illuminating the scene as a shaft of light blesses the offering. This upward gesture is the prelude to abundance, where faith transforms scarcity into a feast for all.
A monarch butterfly alights at the basket’s edge, its bright wings a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven's proximity and the impending transformation. It embodies the potential of the modest to become majestic, the earthly to touch the divine.
The miracle of the loaves and fish serves as a reminder of the compassion of Christ, who not only nourishes our bodies but also our spirits. In the breaking of bread, we witness the infinite abundance of the Kingdom of God, where gratitude and faith turn scarcity into plenty and where the Shepherd provides for His flock with unfailing love. It is a testament to the miraculous power of faith and the enduring message that, with Christ, there is always enough to feed the hungry souls of the world.
to purchase a print of this painting, click here