As Christians we are called to be disciples of Jesus, to learn about his life, his teachings, and follow him and his direction. This is not to be an academic exercise. Through reading, meditating, and praying with the Gospels as well as the whole of the Bible; participating in Sunday Mass and holy days of obligation, and if able, more often or even daily, receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we encounter and come to know Jesus.
Just as Jesus called each of the Twelve, we have been called, and as they modeled their lives around and were transformed by the love of Jesus, they and we are called to be apostles. Ones who are sent, as we are at then end of each Mass to proclaim and share that Jesus is who he said he is, and how he has affected our lives. Often when we are reminded of this message though, we may feel inadequate. We may question what it is that we can even possibly offer in an effort to help build the kingdom of God. We may feel we have nothing to share, nothing to give, nothing to say, or that what the Lord asks of us, we do not know how to even begin.
The Twelve expressed doubts and we see this on display. Jesus shows concern for the thousands who had just listened to him for three days and are readying to depart. He has satiated their spiritual hunger, they remained with him for three days listening! He now also is concerned about their physical hunger and that some may collapse or grow faint on their way home. The disciples were bewildered with Jesus’ request. How could they possibly feed the vast crowd of four thousand. Then Jesus asked, “How many loaves do you have” (Mk 8:5)? With the minuscule amount, of seven loaves and a few fish, Jesus fed the multitude. “They ate and were satisfied” (Mark 8:8), with seven baskets of bread fragments left over.
Jesus asks us, “What do you have, what can you offer?” We may not have been asked or thought about this question before. We may not know initially how to answer. It is worth pondering. Where are there and who might have needs? Each day is a new opportunity to begin again and seek Jesus’ guidance. We can pray and meditate with this account from Mark. We can also look at a statue of Jesus we may have, a picture, a crucifix, or an icon. Then take some deep breaths, meditate on our present life condition, and assess where there is a need in our own life as well as those of others. Once we receive an answer or a nudge, then we can give what we have to Jesus.
Resist looking for the big response or grand plan. Ask yourself what you can offer no matter how small. What you give to Jesus, he will multiply and bring about amazing results. “Jesus takes what little his disciples have to offer, blesses it, and gives it back to them; in the very process the paltry amount mysteriously becomes more than enough to satisfy the needs of all” (Healy, 152). Jesus provides, Jesus works through us. We don’t need to be concerned whether or not we are capable or worthy. The question we need to answer is, “Are we willing?” If “yes”, then, with Jesus, all things are possible.
Photo: Some quiet time listening to Jesus, in the sanctuary of St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church, Los Angeles, CA.
Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008.
Spiritual Stepping Stones 