In our Gospel today from Matthew 14:13-21, a crowd of over 5000 gathered to be with Jesus. The disciples told Jesus they were hungry and to dismiss them so they can go eat. Jesus says they don’t need to leave, just feed them. The disciples say they don’t have enough food, and Jesus performs the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.
It’s interesting that his disciples 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 these disciples’ 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 the disciples, 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
