The Second Friday of Easter

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.

When we generously give our time, talents, and treasures, we end up with much more than we started with. This is especially true of the love we give to God and others. The more we love our family, friends, and neighbors, the more we are loved and the more they are able to love others and so on. Doing good deeds sparks others to do them. Forgiving others leads others to forgive. Nothing given out of love is ever wasted. In truth, it multiplies and increases because each person touched by our love is given the opportunity to magnify it through their own thoughts, words, and works. What starts out as one act of charity can light the hearts of many others through the enkindling fire of the Holy Spirit. This is why we should never look at what we lack and get stuck on what we can’t do, but rather we should focus on what we have and do what we can with it. The rest is up to God and He always provides for His children.

Do we wonder what good our gifts and talents can do in the world? Are we willing to trust God and share our time, talents, and treasures with others in order to multiply God’s graces? What can we do to know, love, and serve God and others?

O Lord, help us to remember that with you all things are possible and nothing done out of love is wasted.

Amen.