Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Men

You let them eat Mt 14, 16.

What a shocking twist! For in most Gospel stories we see Jesus himself drawing the disciples’ attention to the needs of those around them – people who are like “sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9: 36). And today it is the other way around! The disciples warn Jesus that the people who came to Him are hungry. Another shock occurs when Jesus again “throws the ball” on the side of the Twelve after this warning! “You give them to eat” (Mt 14: 16). Not only I can do these things, but you can take care of them.

There is no doubt that Jesus’ response to the disciples was taken aback. The little they have is not enough! But Jesus will not despise even the slightest. Instead, they make them a miracle that they are going to do and instruct them to distribute bread. You let them eat. You can do it. Maybe it’s not exactly what you want to hear when you ask the Lord for something. Maybe you ask for a friend who is in a difficult situation; you ask Jesus to intervene. You want him to do a miracle, one that makes sense to you.

But what if Jesus sends you back to a friend and tells you to take care of him alone, as he told his apostles? Although we do not hear Jesus speaking so often, he does so when he calls on you to become Christ for another person in a particular situation. Remember that he has sent you the Holy Spirit for this purpose. Of course, he wants you to be part of his mission in the world! He is extremely fond of using his people in a creative and unexpected way to accomplish the miracles we are all so eagerly waiting for.

Jesus, of course, does not expect us to do all the work ourselves, nor did he expect the disciples to feed the entire crowd themselves. But he wants you to do something. Seek to bring his grace into situations full of fear and darkness. Become his calming voice for the sick. Many needs to embrace, to understand, to listen to the heart or to have ready hands. When you do so, you feed them just what they need.