Do you ever feel overwhelmed and entirely inadequate to meet the demands of life? Michael Bachmeier, SJ reflects on how we don’t have to be enough on our own, inviting us to simply bring our small offerings to the altar and let Jesus do the rest. Based on the readings for the 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time.
We don’t have to be enough. Jesus is enough.
Imagine this: The pastor of your parish asks you to plan a free banquet for everyone in the parish. What is your response?
Mine would probably be, “WHAT the . . .?” Or, “Who? Me?” I would feel overwhelmed and inadequate.
The disciples felt exactly that way in today’s Gospel. Faced with a hungry, tired crowd of thousands, they looked at their five loaves and two fish and basically said, “Lord, this is nothing. Send them away. We can’t fix this.”
Yet, we hear, “all ate and were satisfied.”
Jesus doesn’t ask them to be the saviors of the world. He just asks them to bring what they have. He took their completely inadequate offering, blessed it, and multiplied it until thousands were fed, with twelve baskets left over.
The truth is, on our own, our patience, our energy, and our wisdom often aren’t enough. And that is okay. You don’t have to be enough. Just bring your five loaves and two fish to the altar. Let Jesus do the rest, because Jesus is always enough.
