A Reflection for Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
You can find today’s readings here.
“I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” (Ps 23:6)
The miracle of the loaves and fishes appears in all four Gospels—and twice in Matthew. It has been poured over by Scripture scholars for decades, with some even suggesting it can be explained as simply a “miracle of sharing.” The idea, as I understand it, is that members of the crowd were inspired to share their own food with others after Jesus and the Apostles shared what little they had.
But I don’t believe that’s what happened. I believe that Jesus turned the loaves and the few fish available into a feast so large that the thousands gathered had their fill. I often think of the leftovers—“seven baskets full.”
The miracle signals to us that God can shower abundance from scarcity. It demonstrates that God tends not only for our spiritual needs and bodily ailments, as Jesus did before the multiplication of the loaves, but that God cares even for basic needs like eating.
If I was there, after three days, I doubt my first thought would have been to glorify God. I would have likely been getting “hangry”—angry because I was hungry. (I’m also not a fan of crowds.)
“And now I have to make my way back to some random little town a couple miles away? Are you kidding? I’m tired, and hungry, and I’m around all these strangers. Whose idea was this?”
But the appearance of the food surely changed such conversations. It allowed those gathered to rejoice in the healing presence of God. Jesus knows it’s hard to entertain spiritual truths on an empty stomach.
God loves us deeply and tends to every one of our needs. May this Advent be a season in which we prepare our hearts to receive, once again, the birth of Christ in our hearts. And may God’s presence inspire us to care for the needs of others.
Get to know J.D. Long García
What are you most grateful for this Advent season?
I’m grateful for my family every day, but even more so this time of year. Gift giving is different with kids. Don’t get me wrong, I like giving and receiving as much as the next person. But in a way that’s hard to explain, I feel like a kid again when I watch our children open their gifts.
Do you have any favorite Advent/Christmas family traditions?
Too many to list! But I certainly like celebrating Three Kings. I was born in the Dominican Republic, and my wife is Puerto Rican, so Three Kings—or “Los Tres Reyes Magos”—is a significant cultural celebration for us. Coupled with Christmas, it’s like a two-for-one deal. (Instead of cookies for Santa, my grandfather in the D.R. used to put out three shots of rum for the Three Kings. Hmmm… Maybe I should revive that tradition at our place this year?)
Do you have any seasonal reading or movie recommendations?
This isn’t seasonal, really, but I’ve been thinking a lot about Gustavo Gutiérrez since his passing. I haven’t made it through all of his work, but I love everything I have read so far. I would highly recommend We Drink from Our Own Wells, as well as his book On Job.
