Listen

That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.”

They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves of bread and two fish.”

He said, “Bring them here to me.”

Matthew 14:15-18

Think

The disciples are being very practical in their advice to Jesus. In fact, some would call it proactive leadership: they are anticipating and preventing problems. “You don’t need to send them away; feed them.” Can you see their confused faces at Jesus’ response? The disciples’ response reveals a measure of faith. Perhaps they don’t understand, but they don’t question. They look around and offer what they have. It seems like very little to them, but they bring it. And what they have seems to be enough for Jesus, who confidently says, “Bring them here to me.”

The economy of God’s kingdom is very different from the economy of the world. What seems insignificant to the world is, for Jesus, enough: it is what is needed, the starting point for doing something. Jesus was about to do something amazing, but before that, he did something with this group of disciples. We can be part of the blessing that God will bestow when we place in God’s hands the blessing God has already given us, even when it seems small.

Gabriela Martínez Seda

Question to Ponder:

What can I place in God’s hands?

Pray

Jesus, I place my life in your hands so that you may use my gifts, talents, and time. Help me to inspire others to place their lives in your hands. Amen.

Go

May your life be a reflection of God’s kingdom:

May others see in you what a life under the blessing of God’s presence and provision looks like.

Love, respond, and serve from the abundance of Jesus.