Jesus summoned the disciples and said,
"My heart is moved with pity for the crowd . . . . "
(Mk 8:1-10)

This expression of compassion is followed by the feeding of the 4,000. Seven loaves of bread and a few fish: Jesus took “the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd.” Please notice the “Eucharistic elements” in the passage: Jesus takes, gives thanks, breaks, and gives. And the gospel writer notes that there were seven baskets of left-overs!