Once, Jesus multiplied a few loaves and a couple of fish for a huge crowd who had followed Him and listened to Him for a long, long time. His disciples could think only of going to buy a truckload of bread and fish. So Jesus took over.

The story came down to gospel-writing time with this tag about His close friends:  “They didn’t get it. Their hearts were hardened.“

So what does that mean?  It means that all they saw was the bread going on and on and the fish not running out.  They did not see what was behind that multiplication: Jesus’ feeling sorry for hungry people. Jesus longing to help people who needed help right now. Jesus loving these  people.

The disciples got the mechanics: the bread and fish not only didn’t run out but ran over. Of course, they counted the baskets-full: twelve.  What they took longer to get is this divine force that is behind everything Jesus does: love. It takes longer. It also lasts much, much longer.