Fr. Bob's Reflection for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Guest Post

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to His disciples, “Give them some food yourselves.” Looking out at the thousands gathered before them, the disciples are overwhelmed. They respond, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have.” And Jesus simply says, “Bring them to Me.” There is an important lesson here for all of us. The disciples see only the size of the problem. There are too many people and there is not enough food. Yet Jesus does not excuse them from the task. Instead, He invites them to participate in the miracle. They bring Him what little they have. Jesus blesses the loaves and fish, but then He does something surprising. He places the food back into the hands of the disciples and tells them to distribute it to the crowd. The message is clear: God chooses to work through us. He invites us to take part in His work of healing, compassion and care for others. A beautiful example of this came from a story in New York City. Three times a week, a blind woman boarded a city bus. The driver greeted her warmly and saved a seat for her, near the front. They talked about family, life and the challenges they faced. When they arrived at her stop, he helped her off the bus and safely across a busy street. Then he returned to the bus. Yet the woman remained standing where he had left her. She waited until she heard him honk the horn three times. Only then did she smile, wave and continue on her way. A blind woman and a bus driver – hardly important figures by the world’s standards. They possessed no wealth, influence, or power. Yet each offered what little they had: kindness, concern and compassion. Christ blessed those small gifts and used them to nourish both of them. How often do we feel like the disciples? We look at the challenges around us and ask, “What can I possibly do?” Parents worry about raising children in a difficult world. Workers struggle to remain honest amid pressure and competition. Spouses try to heal relationships that seem fragile or strained. Others carry burdens of grief, illness, loneliness, or uncertainty. And their response is often the same as the disciples: “Lord, all I have are five loaves and two fish.” But Jesus says to each of us what He said to them: “Bring them to me. Bring me your fears and anxieties. Bring me your hopes and dreams. Bring me your struggles and disappointments. Bring me your burdens and your crosses. Bring me whatever you have.” We often concentrate on what little we can do, rather than what Christ can accomplish through us. We see limitations. Jesus sees possibilities. We see the shortage. Jesus sees the abundance. The miracle of the loaves and fishes reminds us that God does not ask us to solve every problem on our own. He asks only that we place what we have into His hands. And when we do, He blesses it. He multiplies it. He uses it in ways we never imagined. So, my friends, do not focus on how little you have. Instead, focus on how much Christ can do. Bring Him your burdens, your hopes and your crosses – and trust Him to make them enough. Yours in Christ, Fr. Robert Warren, S.A. Spiritual Director