Over the past two days, we’ve reflected on the story of the feeding of the 5,000, and raised the question: What can Jesus do with just a little bit of faith, and some small action on our part?

I remember a number of years ago now, I was leading a young adult Sunday School class in another church, and this young couple showed up – kind of out of the blue.  They had two small boys in tow. We got the boys to their class, and the parents stayed with us. They showed up the next Sunday, and then the next. Over the course of the next few years, it was rare that they missed a Sunday.  

And then one day in that same class, the father shared with us – that on that Saturday night before their first visit, his wife had told him that she was leaving. She wanted out of the marriage. They were both deeply unhappy. But the next morning when they woke up she said, “You know when I was a little girl we used to go to church.” He said, “So did I…”  And so we came here that first morning, and that was three years ago.

Sometimes… just a little faith, and some small action, in the hands of Jesus, can lead to a miracle.

Let us pray: O God, give us eyes to see the world not as the disciples saw it, but as Jesus sees it – as a world with the potential for miracles when our lives and our gifts are placed in his hands. Amen. 

I was reflecting recently on the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21). You may remember that in the story, the disciples noticed the need. Jesus had been teaching and it was getting late in the day. They knew the people would be getting hungry, and they asked Jesus to send the crowds on their way.

But Jesus says, “They don’t need to go away. You feed them.”

You can almost hear the frustration when the disciples respond, “We only have five loaves of bread and two fish.”  You got to be kidding me! Look at all of this need. We won’t even make a dent.

Jesus says simply, “Bring them to me.” Bring me what you have. 

It seems as though he is looking for just a little faith; perhaps leading to some small action on our part; which in his hands might, might in turn, lead to a miracle.

What can Jesus do with just a little bit of faith, and some small action?

Let us pray: O God, give us eyes to see the world not as the disciples saw it, but as Jesus sees it – as a world with the potential for miracles when our lives and our gifts are placed in his hands. Amen. 

My friend Rev. Ray Woody, who was a retired pastor, once told me that during his ministry, on Sundays, he used to visit all the visitors to his church. One particular Sunday he had an unusual experience.  The first family he visited said they found the church to be warm and friendly. They were excited to go back. However, at the second home he visited, a man answered the door and said, “Pastor, I’ve got to tell you, that was the coldest church I’ve ever been in. No one welcomed me, no one talked to me.” 

Same church, same Sunday.

When he told me this, Ray said, “Joe you know what I’ve found? In life, most people will meet me halfway. If I smile, they’ll smile back. If I put out my hand, they’ll put out theirs. If I initiate a conversation, others will talk. If I want to get involved, I can.”

Have you noticed that when we care enough about something or someone to put our heart and soul into it, it is rich and rewarding? Think about a job or a relationship. But, if we give only half our heart – we never really get to experience the fullness of what it could be.

This is true also with our faith, isn’t it? When we make time for prayer and worship, when we give, and when we serve, our faith is most often alive and it is a resource we can draw on.

I pray today that the fullness of God’s peace would rest upon you. May you know God’s love, forgiveness, and hope in the very deepest part of your being. And, may you respond with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.

Let us pray: You have blessed us so richly, O God. May we in turn, be a blessing to others and to you. Amen.

The Apostle Paul once wrote, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

In his book, Return of the Prodigal, Henri Nouwen makes the claim that gratitude is in many ways a discipline.  It involves a conscious choice. He wrote, “I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in hurt and resentment. It is amazing how many occasions present themselves in which I can choose gratitude instead of complaint… I can choose to speak about goodness and beauty, even when my inner eye still looks for someone to accuse or something to call ugly. I can choose to listen to the voices that forgive and to look at the faces that smile, even while I still hear words of revenge and see grimaces of hatred… There is always the choice between resentment and gratitude…”

Nouwen goes on to say, “The choice for gratitude rarely comes without some real effort. But each time I make it, the next choice is a little easier, a little freer, a little less self-conscious. Because every gift I acknowledge reveals another and another until, finally, even the most normal, obvious, and seemingly mundane event or encounter proves to be filled with grace.”

As you go through the day today, and then throughout the week, try to be aware of all the occasions in which you can choose gratitude. Especially be mindful during those difficult, stressful moments. And as you do, may notice grace abounding.

Let us pray: We acknowledge, O God, that in the midst of the busyness of everyday life, it is easy to lose sight of your hand at work in our lives and in the world. Especially in the tense, angst-filled moments, help us to choose to look for the gifts and to give thanks. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In his book Proof, Timothy Paul Jones writes about his middle daughter who is adopted. She had been adopted before, but unfortunately, that family put her back in the foster care system. Even while she was with them, they had not treated this little girl like she was truly their child. Whenever they had special outings, they took all their biological children but left their adopted daughter behind. Of course, she got the message that she wasn’t wanted, wasn’t good enough, and wasn’t a full member of the family.

When Timothy Jones’ and his family adopted her, she acted out – a lot. In trying to make her feel welcome, Mom and Dad decided that the best way to welcome her to their family was to plan a trip to Disney. However, when they told their new daughter about the trip, her behavior problems only got worse. She lied. She stole food. She was mean to her new siblings. It seemed that this little girl was so afraid of not getting to Disney that she was trying to guarantee her new parents would have a reason to leave her behind.

The day finally came for their trip, and the family went all out to make this a special occasion: It was a full day of fun!  As they collapsed in their hotel room that night, Timothy asked his new daughter what she thought of the experience. She smiled and said, “Daddy, I finally got to go to Disney World. But it wasn’t because I was good; it’s because I’m yours.”

Timothy writes, “That is the message of outrageous grace. Outrageous grace isn’t a favor you can achieve by being good. It’s the gift you receive by being God’s.”

When the message of grace sinks deep into our hearts; we can let go of thinking that God’s love is something we need to earn. We can let go of our past mistakes and failures – knowing that God has let them go. We can let go of our shortcomings. We can let go of the shortcomings of others. We are set free from having to be the judge of the world… And that just feels good!

Let us pray: We thank you, O God, for your unconditional love, mercy and grace. Help us accept these gifts, and to share them with a world desperately in need. In Christ’s name. Amen.