Always More Than Enough

“Taking the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven, Jesus gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over” (Luke 9:16-17).

Whenever I read this story, I think about my own meager provisions. My five loaves and two fish. My “not enough” to meet the need in front of me. Not enough intelligence. Not enough energy. Not enough money. Not enough creativity. Not enough faith.

But then I see what happens to the “not enough” of the disciples when they offer it to Jesus for the sake of of the crowds: Jesus receives it with thanksgiving, breaks it, and returns it to the disciples to distribute to the people.

And somehow there’s enough. More than enough! Leftovers for a couple days, at least. “You give them something to eat,” Jesus had said earlier, and that’s exactly what happens.

I’m reminded that when I offer what I have, paltry as it is, to Jesus for the sake of others, there’s always more than enough to meet the need, both theirs and mine, and somehow afterwards there’s even more left over than we had at the beginning.