Where can I get meat to give to all this people?
For they are crying to me,
‘Give us meat for our food.’
When we try to do God's will with our own willpower we quickly realize just how powerless we are. We are quickly overwhelmed by frustration.
I cannot carry all this people by myself,
for they are too heavy for me.
If this is the way you will deal with me,
then please do me the favor of killing me at once,
so that I need no longer face this distress.”
After all, we're doing our level best. We're trying to get the people under our care to the promised land. We know that is what is best for them. We know that is what makes for human flourishing. But all they can think of is Egypt. Their memories are only of the fish, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions and the garlic. We're trying our best but we have to deal with all of these unreasonable expectations. Even the reasonable expectations of the people to eat when they are hungry are beyond our power. All we have are five loaves and two fish. There are five thousand hungry men out there. Do we despair, like Moses does? Or do we instead turn to the LORD?
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to me,”
The LORD takes our involvement. He does ask of us the resources we do have. Not that they are sufficient. He allows us to be overwhelmed so that we learn the truth that "apart from me you can do nothing" (cf. Joh. 15:5). We can't feed the people with what we have. But when we bring what we have to Jesus the people can eat all they need.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over–
twelve wicker baskets full.
We learn that "with God all things are possible" (cf. Mat. 19:26). Even more personally, we learn that, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (cf. Phi. 4:13). There are even baskets leftover. Let us gather into baskets the abundant graces which Jesus pours out on us to strengthen us for our journey.
The people may grow tired of the bread from heaven. Even we grow used to it from time to time. Let us not grow impatient or despair like Moses. But instead, like Jesus, may our hearts be moved with pity. May we respond in love to crowds which are hungry and hearts which are misguided. May we respond in love when we find such failings in our own hearts. And above all, let's bring our own efforts to Jesus, to lay them at his feet, and to look to him for salvation.
If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
Quickly would I humble their enemies;
against their foes I would turn my hand.
Those who hated the LORD would seek to flatter me,
but their fate would endure forever,
While Israel I would feed with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them.
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