Leftovers

 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.’ And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.
 Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, ‘Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ They said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ They said to him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ And they said to him, ‘Seven.’ Then he said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’ Mark 8:11-21

We live in a country where there is so much plenty and so much scarcity. We live in a world that is likewise plagued with an imbalance. Some have so much while others have so little. And yet God's world is one of abundance. The earth we live on is producing enough for everyone. We hoard and  pile up and still we worry.

Jesus has provided miracles of healing bodies and filling the hungry and yet the religious leaders are testing him still. Even his disciples are confused and think he's being critical of their lack of planning. We are reminded today that there is plenty and God's intention for us is to live abundantly, sharing what has been given freely with others. And yet we regularly, like the disciples don't trust God's intentions and think we must hold all the goods and hide everything away.

Today I ask God to give a generosity of spirit with everyone. May we see the need around us and respond, trusting that God will provide for all of our needs. May we live into the capacity of love and generosity for which we were created by God.