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Have you ever been haunted by any story in the Bible or by any sermon you heard on a Sunday morning? I have. There is a Gospel story that should haunt all of us. Find out in today’s message which story it is and discover why it should disturb us.
This past Sunday’s Gospel story was the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. I suspect every Christian knows this story. All four Gospels contain accounts of this miraculous event. But it’s only John’s Gospel that tells us where the original five loaves and two fish came from.
In John 6:9 it states, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” The other three Gospels don’t mention the little boy. So why is he so important and why should his actions haunt us?
The little boy in the story is important because he represents you and me. His actions are a clarion call for each of us us. Allow me to explain.
Throughout history, God has frequently worked miracles in someone’s life through someone else. In this particular story, Jesus performed a miracle and fed thousands of hungry people because one boy first came forth and offered all he had.
Most of us are familiar with the phrase, “Christ has no hands and feet on earth but ours.” What if today God is planning to work a miracle in someone’s life but He is only planning to perform that miracle if we do something first? Will they receive their miracle?
Imagine for a moment you are the parents of the little boy. Your family thought ahead and prepared well for the long day to go listen to the special new rabbi. Your family is sitting quietly among thousands of others who did not prepare like you did. They brought no food. About the time the apostles realize the problem of the lack of food for everyone, your little son suddenly jumps up and goes running towards Jesus shouting, “Rabbi, we have some food. Will this help you?”
If he was our son, many of us might have been inclined to shout, “Son, come back here. Sit down. That is our food. Let those other people fend for themselves!” Can you see yourself saying something like that in this situation?
Did Jesus need the boy? Did Jesus need the original loaves and fishes to feed everyone? Of course not! Jesus had the ability to snap His fingers and the entire crowd could have had a meal from Outback Steakhouse, complete with steaks, baked potatoes, plates, forks, knives, napkins, and dessert.
But that was not God’s plan. Jesus performed that miracle because someone, in this case the little boy, responded lovingly to God’s call. And because of the little boy’s loving and unselfish act, thousands of people received a meal and witnessed a miracle.
Two thousand years later, we all know that story. Would there have been a story if the boy had not first offered his food? Would the people have gone home hungry that day? We don’t know, because the boy did act.
So why have I said we should be haunted by the actions of the little boy?
To understand why this story should haunt us, we must first understand the relationship between divine providence and human action. This is dramatically on display in the context of miracles. God’s providence operates through the actions of individuals, allowing them to cooperate freely with His plans. This cooperation is essential, as it involves human effort joined with divine grace, resulting in the realization of miracles in someone’s life
If Jesus is preparing to work a miracle in someone’s life today though us and we fail to act, that miracle may not take place. If the miracle does not take place, it will not be us who loses out! It will be someone else who fails to receive a miracle because we failed to respond to Christ’s call. That thought should haunt us all.
Like the little boy in the story, we must enthusiastically jump up and say yes to our Lord’s call. Today someone might receive a miracle from God if we just respond with an enthusiastic, “Yes, Here I am Lord!”
I first heard the words “I want you haunted for the rest of your life by the story of the little boy,” in a homily in 2011 given by our pastor at that time, Fr. Nick Mormando. I have never forgotten his words. I never want my inaction or lack of response to Jesus’ call to be the reason someone else loses out on a miracle. I retell his story at every retreat I give. I have retold it here today in the hope that it will have a lasting impact on your life too.
We must ask ourselves some hard questions. Are we willing to be the “little boy” who offers everything for the benefit of someone else? Are we willing to cooperate in God’s plan? Will we allow God to work through us to touch and perhaps work a miracle in someone’s life? We should be forever haunted by the possibility that we won’t act, and someone loses their miracle.
Heavenly Father, I never want my inaction to be the reason someone loses a miracle. Help me always to respond to your call. Help me to be more like this little boy. Help me to give my all to help others in need. Help me to listen to the promptings of your Holy Spirit. Amen!
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AMDG
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