Meeting the Needs
What do you do when you are overwhelmed?
But he said to them, 'You give them something to eat.' They said, 'We have no more than five loaves and two fish-unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.' For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, 'Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.' They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces. - Luke 9:13-17
When Jesus and his disciples withdrew to Bethsaida, the crowd followed, and as it grew late, the disciples became concerned for the people. More had come than they had provisions for. They needed to go find a place to stay and something to eat.
I understand their concern. The thought of having too little food for those in need who come to our community dining room is something that is always on my mind.
If we get a few more than we prepare meals for, it is not a big deal. We can pull something out of the fridge or freezer and satisfy their hunger. But what if many times what we normally get come?
Today's Gospel story is all about faith in God. I get that, but I can't help focusing on the miracle of the loaves and fishes, seeing Jesus as a powerful miracle worker, rather than believing through faith, I believe we can accomplish similar tasks.
No matter how many people we feed each day at Caritas, I know there are many more going hungry. As the mornings get colder, more will come seeking a warm place to have a cup of coffee and something hot to eat.
If all who are poor in Port Chester came today, the total would be more than the number fed by Jesus and his disciples. Would our loaves and fishes feed them all?
What is interesting about the story is that the people were not all poor. The disciples said they should let them go find provisions for themselves, so they had some means. But Jesus took it upon himself to feed them anyway.
Maybe that is how we should see our ministry. Let all who are hungry come and sit, gather in groups, and we will serve them what we have.
That I can do, but I also need to have faith in God. He will call those who have to come and bring what they can, so the baskets will be full and the people will leave satisfied.
I believe that many will be among those called to bring from their bounty, and I pray we will have baskets filled what the scraps when the meal is done.
Will you be among them?
More to come...
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