Leftovers

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:13-21

When I hear stories of miracles and abundance, I always wonder about the leftovers and those not counted. I wonder about how the Gospel writers, such products of their culture, most often failed to recognize the women and children in their midst. In these days, of the heighten awareness of the abuse women have suffered at the hands of powerful men, I cannot help but wonder if the leftovers, the barely mentioned, the absolute others, were not the ones who helped make the miracle happen. It was likely a woman that baked the bread and supplied the loaves and fishes. It was a mother aching for healing that pushed a small child to offer up everything they had for the sake of abundance for all.

Jesus, in an attempt to be alone to pray, after his cousin was killed, was mobbed by needy, aching people. They came and found hope and healing. On top of that they found abundance beyond their understanding. Someone overlooked woman and child offered a little and the Incarnate One transformed the very little in to a vast supply. We  are invited by God, to offer our little, however overlooked and leftover we might feel, knowing that God can transform our gift into a great banquet.

Today, I ask God to help me continue to offer what I have despite moments of being sidelined and feeling overlooked. May we all be renewed by the possibility of grateful sharing, which, in the hands of the Divine, can be transformed into a great celebration.