Just One More Thing

When they saw the miracles Jesus was doing, 5,000 people followed Him to a field. They were tired and hungry, but Jesus didn't want to send them home. He took five loaves of bread and two fish, blessed them and gave them to the people. Suddenly, there was enough for everyone! 
Then the people knew Jesus was sent by God.

You're bored. You're cranky. If you were home, you'd be playing Wii or swimming. Instead, you're spending a summer day in a grocery store or car, running errands with your family - and if your mother says, "Just one more thing," just one more time, you're going to scream!

The people in this week's Gospel (John 6:1-15) could probably relate to that. Even though they were the ones who followed Jesus in the first place, they'd been listening to Him all day. 

They were exhausted and probably ready to go home and crash.

Instead - like a family doing errands - Jesus keeps them there just a little longer. He's not quite done teaching yet.

Any kid knows that if you're good on a family outing, you might get something special out of it: the fruit snacks you're begging for at the store; a stop for ice cream on the way home; your mom agreeing to let you text-message with her cell phone. 

Of course, you shouldn't be good just to get a treat, but it's a nice bonus! Plus, if you think about it, all your family's errands benefit you. (You're going to eat the food from the grocery store!)

The same thing happened to the people in the Gospel story. 

They knew whatever Jesus did helped the world, so they were patient and sat back down. What happened next was better than any treat you get on a family outing: Jesus did a miracle, and everyone realized He was really sent from heaven!

(07/23/09)