MONDAY, January 2

John 6:1-14. There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?

A crowd followed Jesus up a mountain. Jesus asked his disciples where they could buy food for them all. One disciple thought they didn’t have enough money. Then they noticed a boy with five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus told the crowd to sit down. He took the bread and the fish, gave thanks to God, and the food multiplied. There was more than enough for everyone.

Many readers focus on Jesus’ miraculous powers in this story. But what about that boy? He could have hidden his food under his clothes or simply figured that it wasn’t enough. Instead, he offered what he had.

After the earthquake in Haiti, a small group of children in a Sunday School class wanted to raise money for relief. They held a bake sale on a Sunday morning and challenged other classes to do the same. The next group had another bake sale and raised even more money. Another class sold bracelets. Ideas and proceeds kept multiplying so that the whole congregation was involved. It all started with that first small group.

It’s easy to think that what we have to give is small and insignificant. That boy offered what he had. When we offer what we have, God multiplies our gifts. What might be your small offering today?

PRAY for the Diocese of Aba (Province of the Niger Delta, Nigeria)

Ps 34 * 33; 1 Kings 19:1-8; Ephesians 4:1-16

View the daily Lectionary Readings at http://satucket.com/lectionary/

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In Thanksgiving To God

Jan 02, 2012 at 5:41 am

Written by emeline,

Like the boy in the story, we offer what little we have. Like a grain of mustard seed, small though it may be, produces a towering tree. The boy's little lunch, was able to serve a multitude of people, thanks to him giving up his lunch, and the power from on High, everyone's appetite was satiated and there was much left over.

May we, like the boy in the story, offer what we have, freely, and pleasantly, so that others may be blessed!

It's hard to always remember that God has His plans.......

Jan 02, 2012 at 8:10 am

Written by Chris,

5. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6. He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

I find myself, daily, focused on all the concerns of the world that surrounds me, identifying challenges and trying to develop solutions when all the time, as in the scripture in John, Jesus had in mind what He was going to do. Letting go of my perceived control and or need of same is very difficult. I am seeking to live in Jesus more each and every day.

a little boy

Jan 02, 2012 at 8:16 am

Written by Gail J in N.C.,

My life, and our world, is forever changed by a little boy in a barn in Bethlehem.

Thanks, Chris

Jan 02, 2012 at 9:12 am

Written by Bonnie,

Thanks, Chris, for calling attention to the additional verses--especially verse 6. It is good to remember that "he already had in mind what he was going to do." It is up to us to simply trust.

A Miracle

Jan 02, 2012 at 11:49 am

Written by Rick,

The "feeding of the multitudes" miracles are recounted a total of six times in the Gospels, (feeding of the four and five thousand in Matthew and Mark)so God must really want us to learn something from these miracles.
I especially like the reading from John because I believe that the lad was giving up something valuable to him and his family, maybe their meal for the day or week, in order to help the disciples feed the multitude. I believe that if we give something sacrificially, no matter how small (ex. The widow's mite), that Jesus will then use that sacrifice to perform miracles!

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