Feeding The Hungry

The story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes made such an impression on the followers of Jesus that all four evangelists recount it, but only in John's account is it Jesus who first thinks of the hunger the crowd, so sensitive and solicitous to our needs is he.  "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" (Jn 6: 5). John tells us that Jesus only asked this question as a test, for he already knew what he was going to do.  Philip, to whom the question was addressed, immediately turns to money as the solution, money they did not have.  But Jesus wants them to see things differently in a new light: that is, we all are "beggars" in the sense that all good things come from God; we of ourselves have nothing that we have not received from him. In view of this, we share his bounty, and by virtue of this, have no right to hoard for ourselves, but have every obligation to share what we have with others.  And so, the little boy with the five barley loaves and two fishes steps up, willing to share them with the five thousand, even though they are not very much for so many.  Jesus gives thanks and blesses the food, which is distributed. All eat their fill and 12 baskets of left over fragments are gathered up.  This remarkable sign is not only a foretaste of the miraculous gift of the Body and Blood of Jesus to be shared with many, but also a reminder to us to be willing to share whatever fragment of bread we have or piece of ourselves with those in need.  Lord, help me to remember that all I have comes from you; help me to be willing to share it with others.  Amen.
Bro, Rene