FREE Lunch! - Matthew 14
There are two great stories in this chapter, the feeding of the thousands with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish (with 12 baskets of food left over?!), and Peter walking on the water (for a bit).
As I read this morning, I was drawn to the boy with the lunch. What boy, you ask? Neither Matthew, Mark or Luke mention the boy, but John does (see chapter 6). First, I'm amazed that of five thousand men, only a boy had the forethought to bring a lunch?! Come on, where are all the protein bars, the beef jerkey, the honey roasted nuts? Nobody brought food?
Then, think about that boy and what he must have been thinking. He apparently willingly gives up his lunch to these 12 disciples. Then Jesus somehow multiplies it to feed more than five thousand people! Can you imagine what happened when this kid gets home that day?
"Hi, Mom, I'm home!"
"Oh, hello dear. How was your day?"
"Well, I shared my lunch."
"Isn't that sweet? I'm so proud of you honey."
"With five thousand people..."
He probably got grounded for lying.
I guess the point I took was that no matter how insignificant it seems, if we're willing to give it - to share it with our brothers - with Jesus' blessing it can become far more than we can even imagine. This could be our money, our time, our abilities, or even a kind word.
peace,
e
