Rev. Michelle Manuel

Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children

Reflection:
Just outside my office, I can see parents walking their small children into their day program. Most days this happens, and I may or may not notice. But there was one day when a situation that I know all too well was unfolding. It’s a tale as old as time- Mom is trying to put the child’s jacket on and the child shouts “Let me do it!” This is accompanied by crossed arms and a foot stomp so big the shine almost flew off the tiny patent leather shoes. We’ve all known a small child who hasn’t quite gotten the talking thing mastered, but the words, “Let me do it” ring out clear as a bell. To be fair, aren’t we all that little girl sometimes?

“Let me do it” is often the cry of my heart, especially when someone is not doing something the way it “should” be or how I want it to be done. “Let me do it” shows up when someone has loaded the dishwasher wrong or formatted a document incorrectly—read “to my liking.” Yes, there are so many times in life when I want to do the thing. But then there are situations that seem bigger than me and a little overwhelming and “Let me do it” turns into “Oh, you go ahead” real quick.

This passage has something in it I’ve never noticed before. We call this the feeding of the 5,000 and the implication is that Jesus fed them. In other parts of Scripture, the disciples are eager to do the things, but when the crowd gets too big they want Jesus to do it. Of course, Jesus did the miracle of taking a meal for a small nuclear family and turn into nourishment for thousands. However, it’s the disciples who do the actual distribution. Look to verse 16, Jesus says to the disciples, “YOU give them something to eat.” And in the latter part of verse 19, it explicitly communicates that it’s the disciples who gave the food to the people. Jesus does the miracle. The disciples pass it on.

This is the simple formula. Jesus does the miracle. You pass it on.

Friends, when it comes to sharing the goodness that God has given to me in life I’m hesitant in sharing. How do you share that God healed your marriage with your neighbor? How do you tell of God’s ever-present love in a season of grief? How do you communicate that each morning it’s God who empowers you to show up with integrity at a challenging job every day? How do you move toward those in need when you don’t even know what to say?

Maybe it’s time to search for the fishes and the loaves in your life. Those measly fishes and loaves will be blessed, broken, and multiplied and then it’s our turn to share with those who hunger for something they may not even be able to name. Jesus does the miracle. We pass it on. 

Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
Show me the abundance of your work in my life. Reveal to me the ways you’ve miraculously fed me when I needed it. Show me where you turned the little things into big things so that I may share them with others. Give me opportunities to share your love and hope with others. Amen.