Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 2nd August and for the week ahead:

Scripture: – The feeding of the five thousand:

15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ 16Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ 17They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ 18And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. (Matthew 14:15-20)

Reflection:

There’s a few things going on in this story. Firstly, Jesus tells his disciples to feed the crowds; and their response is, “We’ve got nothing!” How often is that our response to what God asks us to do? “I can’t do that!” Secondly, Jesus takes what is offered, blesses it, and uses it to God’s glory. Perhaps we should give to Jesus the little we think we can offer and see just what he can do with it. And thirdly, all ate….and were filled….and there were twelve full baskets left over. How did Jesus, did God, do that? I have absolutely no idea. But it shows just how generous God is; he provided abundantly.
If you feel your offering to Jesus is insubstantial, give it, with a free and open heart; he will multiply whatever we give to him. It is when we give, without counting the cost, that miracles can happen.

Revd David