Word to the Wise
Monday, August 2, 2010 - Monday in the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
[Jeremiah 28:1-17 and Matthew 14:13-21]Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five barley loaves here, and two fish." Jesus said, "Bring them here to me." [Matthew]
I think most folks will approach the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes from the viewpoint of the sensational quality of the miracle. That is certainly an attention-getter! My own reflection, years ago, was caught by the lines quoted above. It may have been because I was going to preach a retreat for clergy and was reflecting on the demands being made of me and the smallness of the resources I felt I had! There were so many to feed and so little food! The Lord says, "You give them something to eat!" I respond with the inventory! The Lord says, "Let me have that inventory!" Somehow the crowd gets fed. Sometimes that is all any of us can do. We bring whatever talents or resources we have and give them to the Lord and hope it will be enough to get the Lord's work done and the crowd fed. AMEN