John 6: 1-15
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”
When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
God Begins with an Offering
Whenever we host people, I worry about the food. How many pizzas for 14 adults and 10 kids? Depends—how many pieces per pizza; triangle or square pieces? Two hotdogs per person…don’t forget to take into account the toddlers who only eat half? Until everyone has eaten, I worry: will there be enough?
In today’s Gospel, while Jesus does not share my concern when considering how to feed 5,000 people, the disciples certainly do. Like students working through a group project, they begin with what WON’T work. Philip does the math. Not enough time or resources. Andrew points to a boy’s lunch and immediately dismisses it—five loaves divided by 5,000 people is definitely not enough. Yet, Jesus receives it, gives thanks, and puts it to use. This is often where God begins—not with plenty, but with an offering—with a boy who is willing to hand over his lunch to feed a crowd.
While we fixate on what is missing, Jesus works miracles with what we’re willing to offer. The question isn’t “is this enough?,” it’s whether we’re willing to place what we have into God’s hands and let God do the rest.
—Jackie Schulte is the Head of School and Dean of Faculty Formation at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
when we worry there won’t be enough,
turn our attention from what is missing
to what is already in our hands.
Give us the grace to offer it to you without hesitation,
allowing you to make it fruitful in ways we could not have imagined.
Amen
—Jackie Schulte