The young boy had five loaves and two fish. He presented them to Andrew as the 5,000 people sat down on the grass on the mountainside in ancient Israel. That’s all they had! Philip thought that six months wages would not be enough to feed all who came to see Jesus.
Jesus accepted the boys’ gift of the five loaves and two fish. Jesus gave thanks for the five loaves and two fish. Jesus shared the five loaves and two fish.
The gospel according to St. John notes that all were satisfied and after eating together, there were twelve baskets of leftovers. (Perhaps one basket for each of the twelve tribes of ancient Israel.)
This is a story of giving thanks and of sharing and of abundance.
It reminds me of an old song from summer camp that we used to sing on the hillside as part of our evening vespers –
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, shine, shine.
Let it shine!
Verse three states –
Out there in the dark
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, shine, shine
Let it shine!
Sometimes it seems like there is deep darkness all around us and yet, within each one of us, given at our baptism, is the light of Christ. Five loaves and two fish fed 5,000 hungry people in ancient Israel. Our little lights can lighten the darkness of our lives as we share the light of our communities too.
Let it shine, shine, shine
Let it shine!