by Sister Francis Bangert
Have you ever been in a situation where the demands made on you left you feeling overwhelmed and powerless?
In Sunday's reading from Luke, we find that Jesus has taught and healed all day. It’s now the end of the day, the crowd numbers over 5,000 and everyone is tired and hungry. The provisions are meager -- five loaves of bread and two fish. And then Jesus responds to the disciples’ request to send everyone away with the words -- simply put, “YOU feed them.”
How powerless they must have felt. And yet, Jesus took the little food available, blessed it, and in the end there were 12 baskets of leftovers. Little becomes abundant.
At the Last Supper Jesus took bread and wine, blessed them and gave them to the apostles saying, “Do this in remembrance of me.” In this way Jesus made himself present to us, Body, Blood, Soul, Divinity under the appearances of bread and wine and promises to be with us always, to the end of the world. In Communion, we hold the Living God, Who holds all things in being. An awesome mystery, indeed! Bask in this mystery and know where your power lies.
Fran, thanks for a very beautiful and reflective for this Sunday's feast!
Little becomes abundant through the power of Jesus. Thank you for reminding us of that, Fran.
I love this! Thanks for making my day, Sister.
Dearest Sister Fran, How blessed we are knowing, as you have said, that Jesus promises to be with us always. May we trust in that blessed assurance of His Holy Presence that is with us to the end of the world. As always, thank you for your inspiration!
Love and Prayers, Loretta