My job to offer everything that I have – GOD DOES THE REST…
I read a familiar passage of the Gospel the other day and it triggered something in my mind…
“Seeing that a multitude was coming to Him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’ This He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, ‘Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, ‘There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?’ (John 6:1-15).
In all that passage I have been thinking about that “lad”. I have been thinking about that child. That little boy. There he was sitting in the crowd with the lunch that his mum had packed for him that day. A few pieces of bread and a couple of bits of fish.
And there he was sitting quietly thinking that he would eat his meal now and have a bit left over for dinner on the way home.
And I can imagine him there. I can imagine what he looked like in that crowd. I can imagine how well he listened. I can imagine him leaning forward and straining his ears. I can imagine how his heart beat a little too quickly as the Holy Spirit came into his soul. I can imagine the new breath of life that breathed into him and I am imagine how beautifully his smile grew as he was listening to those stories that God Himself told to that crowd that day, and for that lad, for that little boy, it was as though God was telling him those stories directly from God’s own mouth to his own ears…
And when he heard those stories, he did not sit back and think, “How inspiring, I will certainly be doing something about that in the future when I have a little more time.” He did not think, “That is all well and good but right here and now I certainly could not possibly change anything, it will be excellent when I am older (or married, or have had my children, or have retired).” No. Instead, that lad listened to what God said and was MOVED to act.
So, when Saint Andrew looked around for some food, that lad gave his little lunch – that bit of bread and that basket with fish. When that actually happened, that lad gave everything he had to give – as ridiculous as it might have seemed… He was not stupid. He knew that a bit of bread and a bit of fish was not going to do very much for that crowd. And still he stood up and gave it. He did not worry that others would say it was not enough. He did not worry that they would laugh at him. Instead, he stood up – bravely – approached Saint Andrew and GAVE…
And I have been thinkgin about that today. Because Saint Andrew took the food. He did not say, “Do not worry about it. It is not enough anyway.” He took it and went to Our Lord.
And that is like my prayers – and yours too. You see, I am a very very weak and sinful soul. When I pray, I pray like a feeble baby crying in a cradle. In other words, I am quite ineffectual. But still – like that lad – I continue to pray. Because it is not my job to make the miracle, it is only my job to offer my prayers for it…
And what does that mean?
Well, it means that it is my job to just offer everything that I have – GOD DOES THE REST…
It is as simple as that.
And today, I have been thinking about that lad. Because I have come to realise that I must pray for the Grace to be just like him…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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