Generosity

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

All miracles begin with an act of generosity. A child offered his lunch and the whole crowd was filled to overflowing. We can often find ourselves worrying about "will there be enough". This happens in families, in communities and in our churches. What I learned from my mother was that one act of generosity leads to another. In her eighties, she fed 25-40 children on a weekly basis, sending them home with leftovers. Once people heard of her work, they would arrive to our home with food, loading her freezer with perishables, and her car trunk with non-perishables. We are invited today to listen to the needs around us and act with generosity, even if we feel what we have is not enough. God will bless and provide the increase.

Wondrous Creator, you give us our daily food

and call us to generosity in all that we do

so your miraculous love is known on earth.

We hoard as we are afraid of not having enough

we fight over money and possessions with family

and we forget to be generous and turn daily to you.

Make us the ones who share their small lunches

make us generous and kind to see the needs here

and give us the love we need to see miracles unfold. Amen.