18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (August 2, 2026)

In the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, we read of the Jerusalem community sharing what they had in common. When did they learn to do that? Perhaps, it was on this eventful day in Jesus’ life. 

Jesus was grieving the loss of John the Baptizer. He went off by himself by boat, but the crowd found out where he was going and ran around the shoreline of the lake to meet him. 

There’s that phrase again: “His heart was moved with pity.” Sad and weary as he was, he cured their sick. 

Toward evening, his disciples suggested he dismiss the crowds so that they could buy some food. Jesus countered with, “Give them something to eat yourselves.” We can almost hear the disciples’ reaction: “Who, us? Is he serious?” They said, “We have nothing here but five loaves and a couple of fish.” [Today, we might say, “The problem is too big; we don’t have the resources.”] 

In fairness, this response is sometimes understandable, but it lacks the dimension of faith. Jesus accepted what the disciple offered, looked up to heaven, blessed it, broke it and gave the loaves to the disciples to distribute. 

There is no specific account as to just how the fish and bread were “multiplied.” Did Jesus extend his hands and there was a pile of fish beneath one hand and a pile of bread beneath the other hand? Did the disciples hand out a loaf and, as if by magic, another loaf appeared in their hands? 

We need to remember that the Jewish people were no fools. They were a tribal people who knew how to travel. This insight gives rise to yet another possible interpretation of the multiplication. What if, Jesus knowing the people’s experience with traveling, asked the disciples to distribute what the people saw that Jesus and the disciples had. The disciples began to share the few loaves and fish. What if the people were so moved by such generosity that they reached beneath their own cloaks and pulled out the food that they had stashed, and everyone shared with one another? Would this have been any less a miracle? Did you ever wonder where all those baskets for leftovers came from? 

Which is the historically correct version? The traditional version or the miracle of people sharing? Who knows? Either way, it is a miracle that is also mysterious. Perhaps, each of us should choose an answer as a little spiritual meditation. 

Jesus saw that the five loaves and a couple of fish were – wait for it - just a drop in the basket. But, both then and now, we learn that it is a mistake to do nothing because we can do only a little. Put another way: if anything is worth doing it is worth doing even poorly. 

It is a start. If each of us does something, something is better than nothing. We need to be creative - as the Father was when he magnificently made something out of nothing. 

Jesus did not - even in the first interpretation - create food out of thin air. He began with what the disciples had. In ministry of every kind, God does the same. The Father takes what we have and fills our physical, emotional, spiritual weakness with his power. This happens more often than we realize. Too often we assume that “things just worked out really well.” Right! And God smiles and slowly shakes his head. 

On the other hand, sometimes, when we are completely powerless, we need to “turn it over to God.” The temptation is to say this too soon. We need to make a prayerful decision as to what is within our grasp and what is beyond our control. 

Our celebration of Eucharist embodies the wondrous human-divine interaction in its most perfect form. We offer bread and wine. They become the body and blood of Christ, returned to us as divine, spiritual food for our journey 

Today and every day we receive Jesus we can be sure he has one thing to say to us, “Give them something to eat yourselves. Be who you are and be that as generously as possible.”