Bread From Heaven

By Bernardo Strozzi [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

“The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.” cf. Psalm 145:16

God is always aware of what we need, and He desires to provide for us in every way, both spiritually and physically. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus directs his disciples to feed a gathered crowd of 5000. Although the disciples have no provisions for the multitude, Andrew finds a small boy who is willing to share his five barley loaves and two fish. Andrew doesn’t dismiss the boy’s offering, but presents it to Jesus, who blesses it and multiplies it. The loaves and fishes miraculously feed all those who are gathered, with enough left over to fill twelve baskets. Because of the generosity of a child, the faith of a disciple, and the blessing of God, the crowd was fed that day long ago, as we too are fed and nourished by the hand of the Lord, who provides for us with His own Body and Blood in the Eucharistic banquet.

St. John Paul II, in his 1982 Address to the Young People of Scotland, reflects on how young people, like the little boy in the Gospel, can make a difference by offering their own lives and gifts:

“Saint Andrew gave Jesus all there was available, and Jesus miraculously fed those five thousand people and still had something left over. It is exactly the same with your lives. Left alone to face the difficult challenges of life today, you feel conscious of your inadequacy and afraid of what the future may hold for you."

 "But what I say to you is this: place your lives in the hands of Jesus. He will accept you, and bless you, and he will make such use of your lives as will be beyond your greatest expectations! In other words: surrender yourselves, like so many loaves and fishes, into the all-powerful, sustaining hands of God and you will find yourselves transformed with "newness of life", with fullness of life.”

What do you have to offer to Jesus today? Whatever it is – the child’s loaves and fishes, the widow’s last few pennies, or your own prayers, works, joys and sufferings - give it generously, without counting the cost, and trust Jesus to multiply your humble gift beyond all imagining.





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