Small Things Matter

In our reading this week from John’s Gospel Jesus is followed by a large crowd. As the day comes to an end and it is growing dark, Jesus asks Philip where they will find food to feed them, but Philip expresses that it would be far too costly to try and feed them all. Then Andrew points out one youth’s five loaves and two fish. Jesus blesses the food and has it distributed to the crowd, and everyone is fed.

When the values of God’s role are brought into play, we can truly believe in a different way, which often leads to surprising solutions to our problems. Like when a crowd is hungry, faith means that a boy’s lunch can be the catalyst that ensures that everyone is fed – most likely through the simple miracle of sharing. Hunger, a natural part of the day, finds itself fed by fragments: fragments from us, fragments of generosity, fragments of goodwill.