When they had all had enough to eat, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. John 6:12-13
“What is greater and more remarkable and especially edifying to us is this: Notice how by this miracle [the feeding of the 5,000] He makes us quite eager in our desire to show hospitality with great joy. He all but cries out to us by His deeds that the things of God will not fail the one who shares and rejoices in the way of love for others and wants to fulfill what is written: “Break your bread with the one who hungers” [Isaiah 58:7].
We find that the disciples at the beginning were seized by hesitation about this. But since they had such a disposition, the Savior gave them an abundant harvest of fragments. By this He teaches us as well that when we spend a little bit for the glory of God, we will receive more abundant grace in return according to Christ’s statement, “A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing will be put into your lap” [Luke 6:38].
Therefore, we must not hesitate to share out of love for our brothers [and sisters], but we must progress to a noble boldness and put hesitation and fear, which persuade us to be inhospitable, as far away from us as possible. Being conformed in hope by faith in the power of God to multiply even small amounts, let us open our hearts to those in need according to the command of the law. “You will surely open your heart,” it says, “to the needy brother among you” [Deuteronomy 15:11].”
Cyril of Alexandria (c.378–444) in his Commentary on John (ACCS 1; Downers Grove: IVP, 2013) 187. As bishop of Alexandria, Cyril wrote extensively and was a leading protagonist [good guy] in the Christological controversies of the late 4th and early 5th centuries. He was a key voice in the Council of Ephesus in 431, which deposed Nestorius as Archbishop of Constantinople. Cyril is widely referred to as a “Pillar of Faith” and “Seal of all the Fathers”.
Cyril’s Commentary on John provides Christ-followers with a rich treasure trove of insights into the early church mindset on abundance and generosity. In the quietness of my hotel room in Dallas (pictured above at sunrise yesterday), this phrase struck me: “We must not hesitate to share out of love.” A host of factors can cause us to become “seized by hesitation.” The only thing that releases us from that captivity is reflection on the abundance of God’s provision and love to us in Jesus Christ.
Father in heaven, thank you for the abundant life we enjoy in Jesus Christ. Thank you that in you we have enough. Help gather the abundance harvest of fragments and share them with love. Make it so by your Holy Spirit. Amen!