One of the disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to Jesus, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”
“What good are these?” Andrew asks. What good are five barley loaves and two fish–when there are so many hungry people to feed? And so I ask:
What good is it to give food to the hungry who come to our food pantry, when they only keep coming back again and again?
What good is it to give shelter to the homeless, when many of them don’t seem to want it? When most of them have far greater needs than a place to sleep?
What good is it to provide an apartment for this single mother with two kids, when she also needs food, furniture, clothing, transportation, counseling, a GED, job training, then a job, and day care?
What good is it to try to be honest and to care about those in need, when others (even some of our heroes and idols) are living lives of luxury with seemingly little concern for the common good?
What good is it for me to vote when my vote counts only for one anyway?
What good is it for me to do my daily responsibilities and simple acts of love when the world’s needs are so far beyond my measly giving?
What good is it trying to save our planet, when some say the environmental crisis is all a big hoax anyway? When the few things I can do–recylce paper, plastic, glass, and cans–don’t make much of a difference? And when all our efforts may be too late anyway?
What good is prayer, when it doesn’t seem to change a thing? When I feel I keep knocking on God’s door and nobody’s home? When I feel I don’t even know how to pray?
What good is it trying to be a person of hope when, I see, in the news, so many reasons to lose all hope?
But…
But…
But then I remember how this Gospel story ends.
I remember how Jesus took the little that was offered him… the five barley loaves and two fish… and blessing them… and distributing them… they became enough to feed the crowd of thousands. And (here’s the kicker!) there were even leftovers! Twelve baskets full! How crazy is that?
And so I keep praying:
Jesus, take the few resources I have… my little gifts and talents…. my faithfulness to my daily responsibilities… my consistent small acts of attention, kindness, help, and love… my feeble but faithful attempts at prayer… and the little ember of hope that still flickers in my heart… I place all of these things into your hands… In fact, I place my whole self into your hands… and I ask for your continual guidance and direction to lead me to wherever you are calling me to go… Please use me and my gifts, together with the gifts of all your other disciples and people of good will… to help serve our brothers and sisters who, like us, are hungering for your mercy, peace, and love. Amen.
For reflection:
Did any of the words or phrases resonate with something in your own heart? If so, which one(s)?
What helps you to persevere in your efforts to live a good and loving life?
What helps you to hang on to hope?
Today’s song is “Fishes and Loaves” by Josiah Queen… a reminder that much of our life involves letting go of our need to be in control…
I welcome your responses below–to the reflection, pictures, song, whatever…
26 Responses
Thank you for those honest words that reflect all of us at one time or another..as grandma walton replied when asked by mary ellen and erin..”grandma, how can you believe theyre ok?”..grandma replies, “faith, child”…” because there’s nothing else.”
Peace
Very good and great background music I enjoyed
Fishes & Loaves.
It reminds me of the story of the girl throwing starfish back into the sea. Someone approached her and said, “Why are you doing that? You’re never going to get all of them back in before they die. What difference does it make?” She answered as she tossed yet another starfish back into the waves, “Well, it made a difference for that one!”
And another saying, “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
Great quotes, thank you!
Thank you for reminding us that every little action makes a difference… Such encouragement is needed in our time of chaos .
Good morning Sister Melannie and all,
Thank you for your reminder “to let go and let God,” and for your beautifully written surrender prayer. God’s blessings!
I often pray to have complete trust in Jesus’s promises, especially when he said “Ask and it shall be given to you.” So I trust that the little I can do to help others and pray for them is listened to by our loving God and really does help.
Helpful to hear long held thoughts articulated, challenged, and re-positioned.
I often think that it can take one small action or word to bring on a huge change in someone’s life….maybe it will be my one little loving gesture. Most often it is the tiny baby step that brings about change, seldom the planned “big” thing.
May we all continue to bring small bits of goodness to the world to enlarge the “kin”dom of God here and now!
Thank you S. Melannie
Richard Rohr says God sends out his messages of love in human envelopes. We have to keep delivering.
Beautiful. Simply beautiful.
Thank you.
Thank you for the message I needed today.
Thank you, Sister…Also reminds of St. Mother Theresa..
Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely, right where you are — in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have eyes to see”
Sister Melanie you constantly make me think. Thanks
Good afternoon, Sr. Melannie…
Good afternoon, all…
Jesus says we will always have the poor, and Paul, in today’s first reading from his letter to the Ephesians, tells us we are “living in the good works of the Lord,” works God’s prepared for us in advance. So I suppose when we walk out the door, and an opportunity presents itself for us to lend a hand, no matter how small, we should be aware we are living in the good works of the Lord and not overthink it. He has a plan for our small offering!
Melannie: You hit this out of the park!! (Sorry for the baseball analogy when our wounds are so fresh as Clevelanders.) But it is very, very true: “What good is it?” This was a wonderful reflection. Like many, I am distressed and worried about the days ahead prior to election. You identified my state of mind and soul. I want to congratulate you for bringing it to us. Sr. Mary Ann Flannery, SC
Beautiful! Your reflection really resonated with me!
Thank you , Sister Melanie. We all wonder sometimes about our humble offerings but you never know what the ripple effects of our actions are. Sometimes we find out years later and sometimes not at all that something we don’t even remember doing made a difference for someone else. We keep on doing the work and trust God for the results.
Thank you Sr Melanie, a very good reminder that if everyone just made their little world a tiny bit better…how amazing would that be?
The miracle of the loaves and fishes is a beautiful, rich symbolic tale of the concept, and faith, that with God all good things are likely! We must be humble to make ourselves worthy instruments of God’s love power.
Sometimes we can offer what we think another may need. All someone really needs is the tiny thing I haven’t given, that is a smile how are you. Have a wonderful day.
Yes, letting go of my need to be in control is my constant prayer!
Your reflection spoke directly to me again this week Sr. Melannie.
Thank you for your spiritual wisdom that keeps me focused on others and not just me.
Blessings on your week !
Hi Sr. Melannie.
Today’s blog made me think of the Easter Vigil Mass. The whole church in total darkness. My little light doesn’t make much of a difference, but when it’s joined with everyone else’s little light we light up the whole church. We need each other along with Jesus’ example to spread light into our dark world.
Thanks for reminding us of this today. God bless you and all your readers!
Dear Sister,
Your blog this week spoke so well what I feel so often…..especially the line “When I feel I don’t even know how to pray” and in your beautiful surrender prayer, asking our Lord to accept “my feeble but faithful attempts at prayer”. So often this is where I am. Then our good and gracious God finds a way to patiently remind me -again- that I am His child. And that He finds my “fishes and loaves” useful.
Thank you for your words and for the beautiful song.
Peace, Vicki
What a timely reflection. We just had a meeting at our parish for organizing a food drive for this upcoming holiday season. The biggest concern was how do we know who most deserves the bags of food. “I place my whole self into your hands…” Maybe the people don’t need the food so much but maybe they are hungering and thirsting for something more. And if we can offer that with a few non-perishable food then we are doing God’s work.
Beautiful reflection