Luke 9:11-17: a reflection

11But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them of God’s Kingdom, and he cured those who needed healing. 12The day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms and lodge and get food, for we are here in a deserted place.” 13But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people.” 14For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15They did so, and made them all sit down. 16He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17They ate and were all filled. They gathered up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over.

A great crowd of thousands has followed Jesus to a remote place, and as the day wears on, they are hungry, with no way to get food. The disciples want to send them away; but Jesus says something startling: You give them something to eat. They protest that they have only five loaves and two fish, nothing near enough. But Jesus takes the little they have, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it back to them to distribute; and it feeds the whole multitude, with twelve baskets left over.

Notice that Jesus involved his disciples in the miracle. He did not simply feed the crowd himself; he told the disciples, you give them something to eat, and then took their little, their five loaves and two fish, and multiplied it. He did not despise their meager supply, or dismiss it as too little; he took what they had, blessed it, and made it more than enough. What was hopelessly inadequate in their hands became abundant in his.

That is how Jesus often works: he takes the little we have, and multiplies it for the need before us. We may face needs that dwarf our resources, and feel we have nothing near enough to give, only five loaves and two fish for a multitude. And Jesus says, in effect, give what you have to me. Do not despise or withhold your little because it seems too small for the need. Bring it to Jesus, offer it, and let him bless and multiply it. What is inadequate in your hands can become more than enough in his. Give what you have, as the disciples gave their loaves and fish; place it in Jesus' hands, and trust him to multiply it for the need before you. He can feed a multitude with the little you bring.

Lord Jesus, when the great crowd was hungry, you told your disciples, you give them something to eat, and then took their five loaves and two fish, blessed them, and multiplied them to feed the multitude, with baskets left over. Thank you that this is how you often work: taking the little we have and multiplying it for the need before us. I may face needs that dwarf my resources, and feel I have nothing near enough to give, only five loaves and two fish for a multitude. And you say, in effect, give what you have to me. Keep me from despising or withholding my little because it seems too small for the need. Help me bring it to you, offer it, and let you bless and multiply it. What is inadequate in my hands can become more than enough in yours. Help me give what I have, as the disciples gave their loaves and fish; help me place it in your hands, and trust you to multiply it for the need before me. You can do much with the little I bring.