The Boy with 2 Fish and 5 Loaves (07/28/2024)

Today’s gospel recounts Jesus’ feeding of the multitude of 5000 families. It says 5000 men, but we know they weren’t traveling alone. The gospel tells us Jesus’ ability to feed such a crowd with a mere 2 fish and 5 loaves after giving thanks for it and dedicating its use to the glory of the LORD and service of others. It tells us of the wonder among those present who witnessed that this little bit when blessed and shared not only feed the throng but ended with baskets of leftovers. It is truly amazing. But I wonder. Why don’t we ever talk about the boy who gave all he had to Jesus in faith.

I think about this boy every time I read this gospel, one of my favorites, by the way. I wonder how Andrew knew of this boy’s stash; the obvious answer is that the boy had shared with Andrew earlier or Andrew had witnessed him sharing his food with someone else. Where were his parents? We do not hear of them. Does that mean he is alone, an orphan, which makes him all the more vulnerable? Why would the boy offer his fish and loaves to Jesus?  How will he survive without them?

The only answer I can come up with is that the boy trusted Jesus. The boy was following Jesus along with the others in this huge crowd. He must have witnessed Jesus’ power. He believed in Jesus and Jesus’ ability to take what little he had and make a difference with it. And every time I read this gospel, I ask myself, is my faith in Jesus that strong? Do I offer what little I have and am to Jesus in faith?  

So many times in my life, I have witnessed others who demonstrated the same faith in Jesus as this boy. They show up. They offer their time. They offer what they can, usually their offering is at a sacrifice to them. But they do it. And every time I recall this gospel.

And it makes me step back and ask myself how trusting am I in Christ. Do I offer to Christ all that I am and have for His sacred use? Or do I hold back asking, “What difference would it make?”

How could our world change, how would our world change, if we all offered Christ daily all that we are and all that we have for His sacred use, for His ongoing mission in this world?

Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing to witness?

Until tomorrow, let us all  love well.