We live in a time when we need to turn our words into actions. People are conscious of how easy it is to say something in the haste of the moment only to struggle to make it happen. There is a focus on what people say and keen observance to see whether we can trust what has been said. At the heart of it all is whether the words will nourish and sustain us. This is not just about creating a warm feeling in the heart but actually putting food on the table. This why we need to listen to what is the essential need and then discover how we can creatively respond to that need with the resources that are to hand.
In the Gospel we see Jesus and Elijah facing the same reality. People have been inspired to follow them into the desert and listen to a voice which promises life. When they are told to feed the multitudes with what appears to be limited resources the disciples quite rightly do their sums. It does not add up what can they do with so little when confronted with such an overwhelming multitude. You can sense that they are confronted by what seems an impossible task and their confidence to provide for others is greatly shaken. Yet in the midst of great need Jesus and Elijah call upon us to trust in the God who provides for the needs of the many. The focus turns on what the people need rather than the little we have to offer. This is at the centre of the Eucharist moment. What can what appears so small transform our whole life by opening our hearts to God and each other.
We become so used to think in terms of scarcity and lack that we miss the moments of grace which allow us to provide for the moment. This does not make life easier but it does change the way we share what we have with those in greatest need. The centre shifts on to the person and how we can provide what is needed rather than determining whether our relationship should be limited by what we have. Each day offers us the opportunity to creatively meet others and help us to discover what will put food on the table.
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