The Cathedral Close

Loaves of bread and two fishes in a basket.

In the Gospel for this week we read of the miracle which our Blessed Lord wrought when He fed the hungry and fainting people who had gathered round Him with the five loaves and two fishes. As is usually the case He made use of the labor and the offerings of one of them, that by means of these He might relieve and bless them all.

In this case it was a lad who was thus highly honored. He had taken the trouble to bring these loaves and fishes with him, but he could hardly have done so merely for his own sake. Indeed, if he had been thinking of himself only he would scarcely have provided so much food.

Might not I, like that lad, spare a little of my pocket money for the relief of the poor, and for the work of the Church both at home and abroad? Isn’t it fair to ask whether there none whom I can teach, or encourage, or comfort? At least, may I not strive, by my influence and example, to help others who are younger than myself?

Perhaps I think cannot do much. The lad who brought the loaves and fishes did not do much, and most likely could not have done much. His loaves and fishes were but few, and the loaves were only barley loaves. But he did what he could; and, if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that any one hath, and not according to that he hath not. We must not, like the servant in our Lord’s parable, to whom only one talent had been committed, suppose that, because our means and opportunity of doing good are small we need not, therefore, attempt to do anything at all.

In our Lord’s own description of the Day of Judgment the only reason alleged why those who are bidden to enter, as the blessed of His Father, into His everlasting kingdom receive that invitation is that they had been kind to their fellows for His sake. The only reason alleged why those on the left hand are bidden to depart into the everlasting fire is that they had done nothing for any except themselves.

Prayer

O Lord Jesu Christ, help me to be obedient to Thy commandment, that I may be the means of doing good to others in this life, and so may rejoice with them in Thine everlasting glory hereafter. Amen.

From Lent for Busy People © 2017 Fr. Charles H. Nalls