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     There are few stories about Jesus that are shared by all four gospels, but the "multiplication of the loaves" (and fishes) is one of them.  The Gospel of Mark tells it twice.  The first one is at 6:35-44.  Today's gospel passage is the second one.  The details vary just as details will vary when someone tells the same story more than once.  At least the scripture scholars I consult say that it is the same story told twice with different details about place, time, number of people, number of loaves and fishes, etc, etc.. The Gospel of Matthew also tells it twice.  I'm reminded of the old Broadway musical song, "Ah yes!  I remember it well!"  Why would the Gospel of Mark tell it twice?  The reason given by some scholars is that Mark wants to drive home the point that the disciples (and probably everyone else) don't really have a clue to who Jesus really is.  How could they not remember the first multiplication?  That seems unlikely, so changing the details and telling the story again helps to drive home the point that they are not "getting it."  In fact, the entire agenda of the Gospel of Mark is to postpone all true recognition till the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

    In a way that puts all of us in the position of kids at the Saturday afternoon movies watching the thriller where we can see what's about to happen to the heroine and nobody in the cast seems to have a clue!  We can yell at the screen, but the story goes on!  At the same time, we can't allow the dynamic of the story-telling to entirely absolve us of our own questions about Jesus and the multiplication of the loaves.  The story has a different significance in Matthew and Luke and John!  Why not read them all and look at the different meanings?  Imagine baking bread for 4,000 people!   AMEN