A teenage boy once said to God: “I’ve been thinking God….I know what I want when I grow up….I want to live in a big house with a nice garden and two Saint Bernard dogs. I want to marry a tall, blond, blue-eyed beautiful girl and have three sons – one who will be a lawyer, one a doctor and one a professional baseball player. I also want to be an adventurer, who climbs tall mountains and drives a red Ferrari.”
As it turned out, the boy hurt his knee one day playing football. So he could no longer climb trees, let alone mountains. He married a lovely and kind woman, but she was short and had brown hair and brown eyes. Because his business had limited success, he lived in an apartment in the city and traveled by bus. He had three loving daughters, one a nurse, another a music teacher and the third was an artist.
One day the man woke up and he remembered his teenage dream. He became extremely depressed, so much so that he became very ill. Lying in a hospital bed, he called out to God: “Oh God, remember when I was young and I told you all the things I wanted. Why didn’t you give me those things?”
God broke the silence and spoke: “I could have, but I wanted you to be happy!”
What we have……What we don’t have….This is so much tied into today’s Gospel (Matt 14: 13-21). In today’s Gospel a very large crowd follows Jesus out to a deserted place. As evening approaches, people are getting hungry. There are no Seven-Eleven’s around. Jesus’ disciples say to dismiss the crowds so they can go and find food and lodging in the surrounding towns and villages.
Then Jesus says something I find to be most interesting: “Give them some food yourselves.” And the disciples say: “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Jesus says, “Bring them here to me.” Jesus then shows them what he can do with the little they have. Jesus multiples the little they have and feeds thousands of people.
So often we are spiritually and emotionally hungry. Don’t tell Jesus what you DON’T HAVE. Tell Jesus what you DO HAVE, as little as it might be. You’ll be amazed at what Jesus will able to do with the little you have.
The man in my opening story got sick thinking about all he didn’t have. But when God allowed him to see what he did have – a job, a roof over his head, and a nice wife and daughters – God showed him how he took what he had and multiplied it, so that he would find true happiness.
Over my 57 years as a priest, I’ve come to know some very wealthy families. I’ve known some quite well.. They live in big mansions. They go to wonderful places around the world and they have a lot of material things. I have found that their wealth has brought them a lot more worries and problems than the rest of us could ever imagine.
Jesus says to all of us: “What do you have? Bring it to me and see what I can do with it.”
Some time ago I brought Jesus my singleness, since I live alone without a family around me. Jesus sent me three people who were struggling with cancer as I did 23 years ago and they were living alone. I was able to be a great support to them via the internet, the phone and sending them a card or two.
I know of a person who told Jesus that all they had was their two hands. Jesus asked them to give him their hand and he would show them how to pray –
The thumb – Pray for those who are the closest to you.
The pointing finger – Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal.
The tallest finger – Pray for our leaders, no matter how much you might despise some of them.
The ring finger – Pray for those who are married and for families to stay strong.
The little finger – Pray for yourself, your own needs, “the least shall become the greatest.”
Jesus is telling us that he can work an even greater miracle in and through us if we would only give him the little that we have.
Start with the Hand Prayer and pray it today. What can you give to Jesus? It doesn’t have to be much. He can multiply it like he did the loaves and fish?
I STILL REMEMBER THE DAY I PRAYED FOR THE THINGS THAT I HAVE NOW!
Please share today’s Message with someone in your family.
