Jesus began to teach the crowd many things… By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.”

(Mk 6:34-44)

The Eucharistic overtones of this passage are clear. Jesus feeds the crowd with his teaching (Liturgy of the Word), and then with food (Liturgy of the Eucharist).

The disciples are given what seems to be an impossible task: “Give them some food yourselves.” They explain that they don’t have what is needed. Jesus then asks them to bring the little they do have. Jesus takes it, blesses it, gives it back to them… and it is enough. It is more than enough.

Many a time, I can look at the demands placed upon me and say, “Lord, I just can’t do it. I don’t have what is needed – the time, strength, goodness.”

At the Eucharist, Jesus invites me to bring whatever I have to him – Which includes not only what is good in my life, but also the problems, the gaps… I place everything on the altar (through the bread and the wine). Jesus takes it, blesses it, and gibes it back to me. And it is more than enough.

That’s worth some conversation with the Lord.