Bless them and multiply them

How many loaves do you have?

While it tells the story of a wondrous miracle—the multiplication of the loaves and fishes—it also shows that we are not passive recipients at the banquet of life.   Yes, Jesus performed the miracle.   Yes, he fed a large crowd with very little food; no one else could have done that.   But everyone there that day had a role to play.

The people in the crowd did their part.   They actively sought Jesus, bringing their sick friends and relatives to him.   Then, when they saw him heal, they “glorified” God.   When they grew hungry, rather than rushing off to find food or turning into a restless mob, they listened to the disciples and sat down quietly, waiting to see what Jesus would do.   They were amazed at the miracle he performed and ate their fill.

The Twelve also played a vital part in this miracle.   First, Jesus shared his concern with them: “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd”.   Then they gathered their resources and brought them to him.   After Jesus gave thanks for these gifts and the food was multiplied, it was the disciples who passed it around to all the people sitting in amazement.

We can not become spectators, God doesn’t want us to be spectators either—especially not at Mass!   Just as the people did in his time, we can come to Mass hungry for his word and thirsty for his touch.   We can participate actively in the worship and bring our gifts and our needs to him during the offertory.   Then, after Jesus has transformed the gifts, we can come to the altar and receive more than enough to satisfy us.

Our God is a generous God.   He gives us much more than we ask for.   He asks us how many “loaves” we have, even though he knows the answer.   Then he takes the little that we offer him and multiplies it a hundredfold so that we are filled up to overflowing with his grace.   He never stops giving, over and over again, every time we celebrate Mass!

word among us