Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled, and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:13-21, NRSVue)
This parable in John is a place where the sign or miracle gets watered down. A little boy comes and shares his lunch, which has been turned into a way to say that the boy influenced others to share their lunch and so it is not a miracle but a movement of compassion.
But here we clearly see Jesus took five loaves and two fish and broke them and distributed them, and all ate and had their fill, and twelve baskets of leftovers were collected. More leftovers were collected than there were probably when they started.
We wonder how we will do things. Sometimes we just need to have an idea and/or people to help to make things happen.
Hungry people are fed.
Hurting people are comforted.
Grieving people are soothed.
Lost people are given a way.
How do we do it? We just do.
Live in love and love in faith.
aSacredRebel 