“And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.” Matthew 14:20
The gospel on Sunday makes me think how Jesus was maybe beginning to think about his own destiny. Maybe there was an increasing urgency to perpetuate his vision and he had to nudge the disciples. It was time for the disciples to become apostles, for the passive listeners to become doers, following his example. Isn’t that what Jesus asks of us?
Live the gospel. These are powerful and challenging words and this is just what the Girls Shepherd group did on Monday evening at Cooks for Christ.
Abby, Adell, Casey,Maggie,Maggie, myself and ministry leader Margie sliced,cut and prepared dinner.
“…taking the five loaves and two fish he looked up to heaven and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” (Matthew 14:19)
The girls prayed, broke bread and fed 45 residents at the shelter, with enough left over for some lunches today. This was made possible by the generosity of parishioners at St. David’s who have been called to share the abundance of God’s grace in their lives to nourish others, providing the resources that made hungry families secure in their food needs for the night. A blessing.
But this blessing is all but empty, as Jesus so clearly demonstrated in that lonely place, without the subsequent acts of breaking and giving, dividing and sharing. Grace must follow upon grace.
These amazing young ladies let the light of Jesus shine through them in their words, their actions and their love. I am so blessed to observe God's presence in their lives.
Maggie shared in her prayer, “we are together sheltered from the storm this night, to share this meal.” Community and fellowship around a table where dinner had been placed sharing the same hunger…to love and be loved, to feel useful and valued.
There was an abundance of food but the blessings were so much more.
What may have seemed ordinary, changed with God's grace into something extraordinary.
Namaste'
Maureen
