In our Gospel today from John 6: 1-15, a crowd of 5000 gathered to be with Jesus. Jesus asked where can they get food to feed them. Philip says they don’t have the money to buy enough food, and Andrew says we only have 5 loaves and 2 fish, so how can we feed them? Jesus was testing their faith.
It’s interesting that two of his closest followers Philip and Andrew have doubts that Jesus can do anything about the situation, especially after they have heard of, and even seen him turn water into wine, and heal lepers and people who are crippled. It’s no wonder Jesus utters “O ye of little faith” when he is with them in the boat in the storm! Contrast Philip and Andrew’s lack of faith with the faith of the leper, the woman with the hemorrhage and the friends of the crippled man who lower him through a roof to get to Jesus. Their faith healed them.
Where are we in this spectrum on our faith journey? Are we like Philip and Andrew, closely following Jesus, yet we still have doubts in his ability to perform miracles in our lives, and we don’t fully trust in him? Or are we like the leper, the woman, or the cripple who do not know Jesus like his disciples, but their great faith draws them to Jesus at any cost to be healed?
Let our Gospel today remind us of what our Savior can do for us and others and let us have the faith to trust that he will give us what we need!
De Colores, Deacon Kevin
