Scripture (the Bible) is a collection of ancient writings written over a period of more than seven hundred years (from about 600 BCE through 150 CE), and incorporating oral traditions going back much further. We don’t read this ancient material for historical information, but to open ourselves to the Holy Spirit who often shows up when we bring the knowledge, creativity and imagination of the faith community to our engagement with the Bible.   Matthew 14:13-21 – In a deserted place a crowd gathers. The disciples are anxious about what the crowd will eat and want to send them away, but Jesus tells them to do something, and it turns out that even a little, when shared, is often enough.   Now when Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been killed, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat.“  They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." And Jesus said, "Bring them here to me.“ Then he told the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled;and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.