Mark 6:37-44: a reflection

37But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” 38He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go see.” When they knew, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass. 40They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. 41He took the five loaves and the two fish; and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all. 42They all ate and were filled. 43They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish. 44Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Faced with a hungry multitude and no way to feed them, the disciples are at a loss; but Jesus says, You give them something to eat. When they find they have only five loaves and two fish, a laughably small amount for so many, Jesus takes even that little, blesses it, and multiplies it until all five thousand are fed, with twelve baskets left over. What was far too little in the disciples' hands became more than enough in Christ's. He took their small offering and made it abundant.

Notice what Jesus did with the little the disciples had. Five loaves and two fish were nothing before such a crowd; the disciples saw only how inadequate it was. But Jesus took that small, seemingly inadequate amount, and in his hands it became more than enough, feeding thousands with baskets to spare. He did not despise the little they had, nor wait for them to produce more; he took what they brought, small as it was, and multiplied it. The little, in Christ's hands, became abundant.

That is worth taking to heart, for we often feel that what we have to offer is far too little for what is needed. We look at our small resources, our limited abilities, our little to give, and see only their inadequacy, as the disciples saw the five loaves. But Christ can take what little we bring and multiply it beyond what we imagine; the little in his hands becomes enough, and more. Do not despise the little you have to offer, or hold it back because it seems too small; bring it to Christ, as the disciples brought the five loaves, and let him multiply it. What is too little in your hands can become more than enough in his. Offer Christ your small resources, your little to give, rather than withholding it because it seems inadequate; the God who fed five thousand from five loaves can take your little and make it abundant, using what you bring, small as it is, far beyond what you could imagine.

Lord Jesus, faced with a hungry multitude and no way to feed them, the disciples were at a loss; but you said, you give them something to eat. When they found they had only five loaves and two fish, a laughably small amount for so many, you took even that little, blessed it, and multiplied it until all five thousand were fed, with twelve baskets left over. What was far too little in the disciples' hands became more than enough in yours. Show me what you did with the little they had. Five loaves and two fish were nothing before such a crowd; the disciples saw only how inadequate it was. But you took that small amount, and in your hands it became more than enough. You did not despise the little they had, nor wait for them to produce more; you took what they brought, and multiplied it. Take that to my heart, for I often feel that what I have to offer is far too little for what is needed. I look at my small resources, my limited abilities, my little to give, and see only their inadequacy. But you can take what little I bring and multiply it beyond what I imagine. Keep me from despising the little I have to offer, or holding it back because it seems too small; help me bring it to you, as the disciples brought the five loaves, and let you multiply it. What is too little in my hands can become more than enough in yours. Help me offer you my small resources, Lord, rather than withholding them because they seem inadequate.