You give them something to eat

Summary

Jesus was ministering to the crowd at a deserted place.  When Jesus looked at the crowd he had compassion.  He was moved when he looked at the people at need and he healed them. When it became evening his disciples became concerned.  The disciples presented Jesus with their analysis of the problem and their solution. The people were getting hungry and should be dismissed so they could go to nearby villages to get themselves food.

Jesus answers they do not need to go away. The disciples highlight that they have too little too feed the crowd with the little that they have 5 loaves and 5 fish.  But Jesus tells them to bring the little that they have to him and he blesses it, breaks it and gives it back to the disciples to distribute it to the crowd.

Jesus had compassion on the people because he saw how needy the people were. Jesus got involved.  Perhaps the disciples should have started by asking Jesus what do we do about this situation. They have resolved the problem and wanted Jesus blessing on the solution they have created.  They did not ask what is the solution for this problem. Anybody recognize themselves.   It is only when we have exhausted all our ideas that we ask Jesus what do I do in this solution. You bring you idea and solution and ask for Jesus blessing instead of asking give me wisdom and open my eyes probably there is something I am not seing here.   Jesus knows the end before the beginning starts. So he knows what is best for us. So maybe we could have started by asking what should we do now.

Lesson number 2. Maybe they should have realized that Jesus is bigger than all the problems. He has been solving many problems. They need to realize, the problem is big, but the God that called them is even bigger.  He knew challenges were coming their way. They need to trust.

Lesson number 3 is the lesson of sharing.  I dont think it has crossed their minds that if they start by sharing the little that they have, even though this requires a huge amount of faith.  If  you had a compassionate heart and you see the way Jesus sees it, you probably start by sharing the problem  and the solution , you identify with the ones who are directly hit by this problem.

Jesus told them bring that little you have, and lets start with that, and they shared, and there was food for everyone and left over. Give him what you have to him and let him bless and share it.  There is something noble about sharing, maybe each one of  us have experienced the blessing  that is in sharing every time we have been able to overcome our ego and self love and  then we never had less because of sharing.  We will not have less because of sharing. Sometimes we may be bound by greed and hoarding and accumulation and being sensitive to ourselves and analyzing  and stuff like that.

The most striking for me in this text is  that Jesus says, You,  give them something to eat. He called them out to make them an agent of the kingdom so it is their job  to transfer these blessings to the people. He acknowledged their position as an agent of the kingdom. Jesus did not give the food to the crowd. Jesus blessed the food  gave the food back to the disciples.  That’s a call for a church, that we represent Jesus and we should be able  to pass this blessing to everyone around us when we come to Jesus.   He was highlighting their position as agents of the kingdom.  If they know that they are called by Jesus and accept that position and are willing to share what they have. Doing miracles is not a human job, not a disciples job, doing miracles is Gods part.  Our part is to offer our contribution. It is good to plan to analyze, make programs towards our goals  having  a good budgeting and strategy is a way to achieve your goal. However, in the kingdom of God you need to have something even greater. You have to offer compassion. Out  of a compassionate heart God’s type of solution comes.

The situation on the surface of the earth is not very much different in our time either. Multitudes of people suffering , from poverty, sickness, war, all sorts of catastrophes, desperation, depression,  it can be disheartening to see the magnitude of the challenges and problems we are surrounded with and we are called to.  The message  for us today is the same ” share what you have”. Who knows what Jesus is able to do with our little effort.   He is a God of miracles, he asks us today, as well , You,  give them something to eat.

Amen

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