Owning It
Once the world knows the good you do, you can never stop doing it.
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?" Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world." - John 6:1-14
There is a responsibility that comes with our actions. Sometimes the responsibility is for us to own the consequences of what we do wrong.
Other times it is a different type of ownership that comes when we do good.
Today's reading is all too familiar for us. We know the story of Jesus feeding the crowd with a few loaves and fishes, and we focus on the miracle of the abundance of food and scraps created.
We think about this as an example of feeding the poor, but is it?
Some of the followers could have been poor, but anyone so dedicated to be out following a prophet for three days will run out of food.
The message is for all of us, both as providers for those in need, and as recipients of God's grace and love.
When we find ourselves in need of grace, God is there.
We should all struggle to be like God in that regard. When we see someone in need, regardless of their station in life, we should lend a hand.
I like to think that some of the people had food that they chose to share as well, and that makes the story even more powerful.
When we set out to do good, people do good.
It sure beats the alternatives, either to do nothing or to do bad.
More to come...