Five barley loaves and two fish
You probably have had the experience of being overwhelmed by need, of having the desire to do something and lacking sufficient means to do so, of having five barley loaves and two fish and being confronted by a hungry multitude. At such times, you are inclined to wonder, like Andrew: “What good is this among so many?” It is quite possible that the boy was carrying the lunch meant for the apostolic group. It would have made perfect sense to spare it for the apostolic band rather that waste it on a multitude that would remain hungry anyway.
Most likely, Jesus did not need these loaves and fish in order to perform the miracle. He could have commanded the bread to come out of nothing. He did not have to deprive his disciples of the meagre lunch. But in taking what could have served them, he taught them - and us – a lesson: what is sacrificed for the needy out of charity and with faith in God is not deprivation. We cannot beat God in generosity. After Jesus had blessed the loaves and the fish, all the people ate and had their fill, and there was much left over. The miracle reminds us How Elijah and the widow of Zarephath; she dared to trust the prophet and she and her son never starved on account of her generosity (1kings 17:8-16).
Jesus knew what he wanted to do but asked Phillip in order to test his faith. I have a feeling that he continues to do the same thing with his disciples. He wants to encourage them to grow in selfless generosity and trust in divine providence. So, he often places us in situations which compel us to make a choice, either to keep the little we have to ourselves in fear of suffering want in the future, or to dare to risk in order to come to the help of the needy. It is worthwhile to look back on such situations and count the times when we dared to risk suffering want through our charitable acts and instead became more blessed. We cannot beat God in generosity.
