This homily is based on John 6:1-15.
What a nightmare scenario: Five loaves, two fish–and five thousand hungry people! But trust the Lord to turn every event organizer’s worst nightmare into an unforgettable affair!
What struck me most this time around, however, was not what happens during the miracle, but after it: As the people sit on the grass after feasting on the miraculous banquet, Jesus tells his disciples to gather the fragments. Hearing him, they probably once again only shake their heads in bewilderment, but just the same they do it as usual anyway. And to their astonishment, the leftover food fills twelve wicker of baskets.
Now I have no idea exactly how much that is, but it sounds like a lot. Once again Jesus outdoes himself. Not content with feeding the five thousand, he sends them home carrying doggy bags too.
But when you think about it, isn’t that typical of the Lord? Hasn’t he always been notorious for being extravagant? The only problem is, the Lord is quite quiet about it. Every single day of our lives he performs miracles, both great and small. Too often his miracles are far too subtle for us to notice. Sometimes we do take notice–a fervent prayer finally granted, a healing from pain, a dramatic rescue from a crisis, or an unexpectedly happy turn of events. And when we do, we say, “Thank you!” but like a guest rushing to go to another appointment, we “eat and run.”
Every moment of our lives, the Lord feeds us with bread, with breath! But what do we do? We eat and run.
Today the Lord says to us: Don’t eat and run. Gather the fragments. Linger after the miracles. Don’t rush away. Savor the memory of blessings past. There are still far too many leftover graces that we can keep in storage–crumbs from past miracles can still fill us for days! And every crumb is precious.
May we slow down and pause and gather every crumb of God’s graces.
8 replies on “GATHER THE CRUMBS”
Beautiful homily as usual Fr Johnny!! MANY THANKS!!!
The Lord is ALWAYS extravagant in giving us everything, life, and LOVE…. many times, I should have died, and yet I live… many times he has given me the opportunity to do things that I could not have done on my own… many times, he gives me relationships that I do not deserve and yet here they are still loving and taking care of me… so many things to be grateful for….
Love it! Let your entire life be in gratitude mode, one big thanks for the gift that it is.
I will remember to gather the ‘mumu’ from my table of graces and blessings. The image of gathering crumbs is so powerful, Fr, J. Like my memory of people gathering leftover rice stalks after the harvesters have moved on. The rice they collect free from these stalks grace their tables too. Thank you, Fr. J.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for lavishly loving us.
Thank you for constantly sending us Your blesssings.
Thank you for giving us what we need and so much more.
May my heart continues to overflow with gratitude for all of Your blessings, great and small, noticeable and unnoticeable.
Lord, use my also as a way to remind others that they are blessed. May the words I speak, actions I do, and decisions I make reflect Your blessings.
Amen.
Thank you Lord, for being faithful to all your promises to us….that You will never leave us!
May we always remember to give thanks every minute of our days for being alive ! …for the countless things we received from God, whether good or bad…and whatever anything etc etc etc etc….always give THANKS ! And then ask for our needs…because Jesus likes us to ask Him ! He likes us to always talk with Him about anything ! Let us remember He is always with us always, so make Him our BFF ! Amen. Thank you so much for your weekly reflection…God bless you.
The hands of the Lord feed us ….