Daily Lesson for January 10, 2019

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from John chapter 6 verses 1 through 14:

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ 10Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ 13So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’

“When he had given thanks . . .”

What a subtle, yet truly wonderful phrase, and the key to taking part in God’s greatest miracles.

For when I give thanks . . . I know that all good gifts come from above. 

When I give thanks . . . I see rightly that what’s mine is not only mine but God’s also. 

When I give thanks . . . I recognize that what’s solely in my hands alone and kept whole is intended to be in all our hands together, broken and shared.

When I give thanks . . . I see that others have shared with me.

When I give thanks . . . I confess that I’ve been blessed and not earned all that’s in my control. 

When I give thanks . . . I see that it is more blessed to give than to receive. 

St Augustine said that in the mystery of God’s economy there is always enough of that which was meant to be shared.  

For this, we do give thanks . . . and we realize that there’s enough in our hands to feed the whole world.