When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test Him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do. Philip answered Him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. John 6:5-11
“The world likes things to be large, big, impressive, and elaborate. God chooses the small things which are overlooked in the big world. Andrew’s remark, “five barley loaves and two fish are simply not enough.” But for Jesus they were enough….Jesus distributed the loaves and the fish “as much as they wanted”…There is enough plenty for everyone — there are even many leftovers. Here a great mystery becomes visible. What little we give away multiplies. This is the way of God. This is also the way we are called to live our lives. The little love we have, the little knowledge we have, the little advice we have, the little possessions we have, are given to us as gifts of God to be given away. The more we give them away, the more we discover how much there is to give away.”
Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) in The Road to Daybreak: A Spiritual Journey (New York: Doubleday, 1990) 170-171.
Advent begins with anticipation. Our focus is hope. Today marks the start of the second week. Our thinking shifts to consider the love of Christ.
In today’s Scripture reading Jesus performs a miracle known widely as the feeding of the 5,000. As the account unfolds, the thinking of the disciples seems deeply rooted in scarcity, which is the framework of the economy of this world. With the miracle, Jesus illustrates the abundance mentality that characterizes the economy of God.
What does this have to do with Advent as we move into week two today? As Nouwen put it, “Here a great mystery becomes visible.”
At Christmas time, the world celebrates things that are “large, big, impressive, and elaborate” and the baby born in the manger arrived in lowly, humble fashion. He loves us so much that He did not send help, He came. And He showed us that “what little we give away multiplies” with this miracle. Soon He will give away His life, which will become salvation for the whole world.
Likewise, you and I represent His hands and feet. We must not focus on what we don’t have, but we must be generous with what little knowledge, advice, possessions, and love that we do have.
“The more we give them away, the more we discover how much there is to give away.” We don’t end up empty, but rather, enriched. We won’t find ourselves destitute, but instead we realize our role as distributors. The only way this happens is if we chose the way of God shown to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. There’s no better time to get on this path than Advent. The way of love is the only way to live!