Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, February 15, 2025
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Jesus is unequivocal. The disciples want to send the crowds away. But Jesus says, “No. You feed them.” The disciples then protest, citing the impossibility of the situation, which Jesus turns on its head and makes possible.
The problem of poverty in the U.S. looks impossible. We look at our own limited resources and feel overwhelmed that it could ever change. We want to focus on ourselves and our material security and let those who are struggling fend for themselves. Jesus says, “No. You feed them.” And our excuses do not hold water.
Jesus didn’t magically summon a solution to the problem to take the responsibility away from his disciples. He simply took what they offered, as meager as it was, and made it enough. Notice that they didn’t say, “We have five loaves and two fish and we disciples are going to eat four of the loaves and a fish, so we’ll give you the other loaf and fish to work with.” Nope. They gave all they had. They stepped up. And then Jesus worked a miracle.
I don’t want to give the impression that God’s divine action is conditional upon our efforts. Let me just get that out of the way.
BUT. (And this is a big but.) But we are called to be all in, when it comes to loving and serving our neighbors. We are called to bring to God what we have and trust that God will make it enough. That’s what stewardship is all about, isn’t it?
What loaves and fish do I bring to God? How do I see my gifts working to help others.
