In a previous reflection, I emphasized the importance of recognizing what Christ sees and does. Christ sees our needs and thirsty souls, offering His body and blood to quench our parched spirits and unite us with Him. Also, I hinted that what we bring to worship is of lesser importance than what Christ bestows. The Lord’s reaction to Andrew’s response testifies to this truth. Continuing our conversation on the feeding of the five thousand and its Eucharistic significance, we look further into the narrative.
Notice What is Around Us
Andrew notices that a boy has five barley loaves and two fish (John 6:8-110). However, he is convinced these wouldn’t go far with the teeming population the Lord wants to feed. But the “noticing” is a sign of readiness to step away and allow God to act. It is a faith gesture.
What does God want of us if not to come to Him as we are, noticing what we have and might not have, and leaving the rest to Him who provides? We notice, not just what we bring, but what our community brings.
There are many within and outside our circles of friendship, family, community, or faith traditions whose little gifts provide us an occasion for the miraculous. Christ’s invitation nudges us to see the world beyond our immediate eyes, for the world we inhabit contains much the Lord wants us to see. Awareness of our surroundings and others offers materials for divine providence.
The Lord has gotten what he wanted from Philip and the rest of his followers. Perhaps he wants them to pay attention to what they have in hand. They are to intentionally consider the possibility that what they have could be tools for a divine miracle.
Why Many Miss Opportunities of Grace
Often, many miss the opportunity for miracles because they need to pay attention to what they already have and the environment in which they live. Your miracle springs from the little you already have. Also, its draws from the assets of your community. The goal is self-emptyingworship and generosity.
We read the parallel story about a miracle of feeding one hundred people by Prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 4:42-44. Here, the prophet asks that the gift of the first fruits of twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain presented to him by a man be shared with the gang of prophets.
His servants, like Philip and Andrew in the case of Jesus, thought it was ridiculous to offer the bread to a hundred people. Yet, Prophet Elisha, knowing the logic of providence, insisted that what they have must be given because, as he prophesied, the Lord will make it sufficient.
Often, we dwell on our lack and insufficiencies, which prevent us from doing great things. The “half-empty-cup” syndrome prevents us from doing the little things that can transform our community and society. We fail to see that God does the miracle with the little things we have, from those seemingly insignificant gifts we bring.
Beyond the Feeding and the Miracle
In the story of the feeding of the five thousand, the Lord Jesus shows us how to offer the little for a higher cause. “He took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them.” This gesture is strongly related to a signature Jewish rite, the “Breaking of Bread.”
In our Christian adaptation, it is a Eucharistic model of offering. During the Eucharistic celebration, the priest says the following prayer over the gifts offered to the Lord. The prayer is similar to the Jewish prayer for the “Breaking of Bread”: “Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness, we have this bread to offer, which earth has given, and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.”
We offer to the Lord what we have. Or rather, we bring all we have and all we are. In other words, we bring all of creation and all we have made of it. This offering is symbolized in the bread made of flour (gifts of nature) and mixing, fermenting, and baking (human efforts and contributions). These are our offering to Christ, who, in his self-emptying, offers them back to the Father. The Lord transforms them for our blessing and the blessing of many.
From Christ’s Self-Emptying to Ours
The result is a life transformed and renewed in Christ; a life totally dedicated to divine worship. We also receive the grace of charity to live out Christ’s self-emptying in our lives.
