Reflection for 24 Feb 2021

BARLEY BREAD

Reading John 6:1-14

"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?"

A large crowd verses a boy with five barley loaves and two fish.

A large, hungry crowd, twelve disciples, one boy, five cheap loaves of bread, two fish of unknown size, and Jesus.

How can so little feed so few?

We might have been the one pleading with Jesus to send people away because we don’t have the capacity to feed, house, serve, love this huge crowd.

We don’t have the resources, but Jesus does. He can use the small resources we willingly give to him in faith.

That’s the lesson we need to be taught over and over again.

Jesus does not ask of us that which we do not have.

He instead receives what we offer, takes, blesses, uses, and multiplies our five loaves of less that gourmet bread, the two fish we caught after hours of fishing, and all the other things that make us feel small, perhaps inadequate.

All we need to do is to be like the boy, to bravely stepped forward in the middle of intimidating circumstances and offer to Jesus whatever we have on any given day.

Points to Ponder.

1 Do you find it hard to believe that God can and will provide? Why or why not?

2 when have you experienced a loaves and fishes miracle? What happened?

3 what are your five barley loaves and two fish? What gifts are you called to offer to Jesus right now?

PRAYER

Lord, forgive us for how easily we forget that you have the power to do more than we can ever hope or imagine with whatever gifts we freely give to you.

Help us to boldly step forward in times of need and offer ourselves for your service.

Take, bless, and use our barley bread, our fish, and our desire to serve in ways that bring relief to those who are suffering.

May we too look upon the crowd with compassion.

Amen.