In the multiplication of the loaves, it may be naturally assumed that the miracle lies in Jesus’ ability to increase the number of loaves (and a few small fish) required to feed the thousands hungry crowd. What if the miracle lies in the change in the attitude of the people in the crowd? Consider the scenario.

It is conceivable that the great number of people who come to see Jesus for healing would have brought some food with them. Jesus was meeting the people in the hills of Galilee. Some, if not many in the crowds, came prepared with refreshments for themselves. Certainly the food of an individual or a family would not be enough to go around but if everyone was willing to share what they had brought, would not there be enough to feed everyone, with scraps leftover still?

Perhaps, at first, everyone was only thinking about their own needs. Seeing how generous the Lord was with His ministering, the people experienced a conversion from thinking about themselves to thinking about others. This is the real miracle of the loaves. After all, Jesus wants us to imitate Him im all good works. If He used His divine power to physically multiply the loaves, how can we, human beings in our turn, do that? We can however, inspire people to be generous by being generous ourselves and leading simply by example.