In Jesus’ Hands…

I’m reminded lately of the story of Jesus feeding the multitudes. He’s been teaching in a remote place and as the day wears on into the evening, the disciples begin to worry.  They approach Jesus and say, “We’re out here in the middle of nowhere. It’s getting late. Send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

This is not an unreasonable request.  It was a huge crowd – a tremendous amount of need – thousands of hungry people. They turn to Jesus.

In the face of incredible need in our lives and in the world around us, how often do we turn to Christ? And how often do we just count him out?

Jesus asked the disciples what they had already in hand. They didn’t have much. However, one of the principles of our faith is that our seemingly insignificant gifts are multiplied and make an impact far beyond what we could ever imagine.

In Jesus’ hands – there is more than enough… more than enough to meet the need. But the disciples have a role to play, don’t they? It requires something of them. It requires an act of faith. Jesus says you feed them.

All of this raises the question for me: in the face of incredible need in the world around us, what do I have to offer? What do I have to bring to help meet the needs of a hurting world? Where there is division… what do I have to offer? Where there is worry… injustice…hunger…?

Of course, we can’t do it all. We can’t meet every need.  Most of us don’t have that much to offer.  But then again, neither did the disciples.

For some of us, maybe it is giving sacrificially of our time or money.  For others of us it may be getting involved in a ministry: mentoring, feeding, working for justice. For others still, it may be cultivating that generosity of listening and understanding. Going out of our way to love – even the undeserving.

But here’s the most important part: For all of us, it means not leaving Jesus out of the equation. It means trusting that whatever it is we place into his hands, will be transformed, multiplied beyond anything we can imagine.

Let us pray: Help us O God to see the world, not as the disciples saw it, but as Jesus saw it: a world with the potential for miracles of abundance in your hands. And, may we never underestimate what Christ can do with whatever it is we offer him.  For it is in his name we pray. Amen.