“Give them some food yourselves.”

Jesus and his disciples had a long day and the people just kept hanging around just like company when it’s past our bedtime.  The disciples wanted time for themselves so they asked Jesus to dismiss the crowds because the crowds needed to find food and lodging for the night.  Jesus had other intentions and told the disciples to serve food to the people.  But they did not have enough, only five loaves of bread and two fish. So Jesus took the five loaves and two fish blessed them and there was enough to feed the whole crowd.

The disciples were feeling like us sometimes.  They did not have enough to fulfill the needs so many people.  But Jesus came to their aid.  He blesses what they had and there was enough for everyone.  The lesson is clear:  we oftentimes do not have love, time and energy to meet the needs of all those who come into our lives but if we allow Jesus to bless our efforts, his love and power can reach into other’s lives and provide what we cannot.

On this feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, we are reminded that the bit of bread and the sip of wine we receive in the Eucharist is enough to satisfy the deepest hungers and thirst in our souls.  In the Eucharist he comes to us as we are and provides the sustenance that that leads to the promise of eternal life.

—Fr. Douglas Leonhardt, S.J. is associate vice-president for Mission and Ministry at Marquette University where he is also pastoral minister for the College of Education and McCabe Residence Hall.