1^st READING: Ruth 3:10-18

10. He said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter; this last instance of your loyalty is better than the first; you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11. And now, my daughter, do not be afraid, I will do for you all that you ask, for all the assembly of my people know that you are a worthy woman. 12. But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is another kinsman more closely related than I. 13. Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will act as next-of-kin for you, good; let him do it. If he is not willing to act as next-of-kin for you, then, as the Lord lives, I will act as next-of-kin for you. Lie down until the morning.”

14. So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before one person could recognize another; for he said, “It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15. Then he said, “Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley, and put it on her back; then he went into the city. 16. She came to her mother-in-law, who said, “How did things go with you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17. saying, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, “Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”  18. She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.” 

GOSPEL: John 6:1-15

1. After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Galilee of Tiberias. 2. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick.  3. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” 6. He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7. Philip answered him, “Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”

8. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9. “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” 10. Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so the men sat down, about five thousand in all.

11. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” 13. So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” 15. When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.