One important lesson we can learn from Jesus multiplying five barley loaves and two fish to feed a large crowd of at least 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21//Mark 6:31-44//Luke 9:12-17; John 6:1-14) is that what seems “insignificant” in our minds can be made great through Christ.
Among the disciples, who would have thought that a
scanty amount of food, only give loaves and two fish, could feed more than
5,000 people? Nobody. They thought such a small amount of food would be like a
drop in the ocean in feeding such a great crowd. They just could not think of
anything possible to feed them.
Even when Andrew found a boy with the five loaves and
two fish, he was doubtful. So he said, “What good are these for so many?”(John
6:9b). Then, he must have been stunned that Jesus signaled to get the crowd
ready to eat and took the loaves and fish, giving thanks to the Father,
thinking, what in the world was Jesus doing with such an insignificant amount
of food in front of such a huge crowd?! (i.e. John 6:10-11a). But, voila! There
were more than enough loaves and fish to feed the crowd, and there were even plenty
of leftovers to fill twelve wicker baskets (John 6:11b-12). Then, nobody could
underestimate the potential in something seemingly negligible, when Jesus was
present.
Had Jesus not been in the scene, Andrew’s assumption on the mere five loaves and two fish would have been validated. Such a little amount of food would not feed even a fraction of such a great crowd. But as the boy let Jesus have his loaves and fish, these became more than enough to satisfy everyone in the crowd.
We are like Andrew. We often say, things like, “This
won’t do it because it does not have enough value”, “Are you crazy? Do you
think such an insignificant thing can cover the whole thing?” So we tend to
dismiss what we see “too small”, “unimportant”, “of little value”, “impotent”,
and so forth.
This kind of human thinking may fit in utilitarianism.
For the sake of maximization “happiness” for the great mass, things like five
loaves and two fish in front of a crowd of at least 5,000, are not even
considered at all. Philip's "calculation" (John 6:5-7) was reflects utilitarianism. But, we can change this thinking as we offer what we may
think insignificant to Jesus and let him handle it, as the owner of the five
loaves and two fish did.
As we let Jesus work on, even our own weakness is no
longer weakness as his power is made perfect in it (i.e. 2 Corinthians 12:9).
This way, we no longer need to be ashamed of our weakness as we become more
resilient in facing life’s challenges (i.e. 2 Corinthians 12:10). Likewise, as
we offer what we would and could belittle and dismiss as useless, meaningless,
insignificant, such things can be made of great values and potentials – just as
something as insignificant as only five loaves and two fish were transformed
into more than enough foods to feed the great crowd of more than 5,000.
This lesson certainly apply to us in our association
and interaction with those whom Jesus refers as “the least of these brothers
and sisters of mine”(Matthew 25:40). We must ask who they are to have been
neglected and marginalized in our society today. And we must let Jesus work on
them through our apostolic work so that their potential will be “multiplied”
greatly to do more than for maximization of happiness of great mass. If we judge
these “least of these brothers and sisters” as unimportant and
insignificant, then, we should not receive the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist,
because such a mindset cannot appreciate the fact that Jesus’ multiplication of
the five loaves and two fish is emblematic to the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist,
which is the very living Body and Blood of Christ, through transubstantiation
of bread and wine (i.e. John 6:1-15, 22-69).
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