The Miracle of Sharing

By:  Lester C. Yee

Today’s Gospel passage narrates the miracle of how five thousand men were fed with five barley loaves and two fish. In fact, there were twelve wicker baskets of bread fragments leftover. The message of today’s gospel narrative actually contains part of the solution to the various hungers that plague the world. These hungers can be solved partially by the miracle of sharing.

The act of sharing calls us to go beyond ourselves and our interests for the benefit of other people. In fact, it is not only those with excesses that are called to share. We can also find in the Gospel narratives the story of the widow who gave her two coins (all that she had) to the Temple Collection and the widow who, even if she knew that she only had enough wheat to make one last meal for her and her son, gave the hungry Elijah food when the prophet went to her house. Still, the best example of sharing is that of Jesus suffering and shedding his life for us on the cross. This is the same cross that assures us of God’s continuing presence even in the darkest night.

These examples of the miracle of sharing were able to address certain hungers.  The woman giving her all was able to help answer the need of the Temple for its programs and pastoral care. The widow giving her all was able to address the physical hunger of the prophet. (Because of the widow’s generosity, her flour jar never ran out of flour through the duration of the drought.)The multiplication of the loaves was able to address the physical hunger of the crowds and their spiritual hunger for a prophet amidst the gloomy situation of the Roman occupation of Jerusalem. Jesus, in his selfless act of emptying Himself of His divinity, has fed the hunger of every human person, man’s hunger for love and forgiveness.

Man’s brokenness is made beautiful when seen in the context of the divine embrace.

Have you been touched by this reflection? Let the miracle of sharing take effect in you. Email lesteryee@gmail.com for any reflection you wish to share.