A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God, twenty barley loaves made from the first fruits, and fresh grain in the ear. Elisha said, "Give it to the people to eat." But his servant objected, "How can I set this before a hundred people?" Elisha insisted, "Give it to the people to eat. For thus says the Lord, 'They shall eat and there shall be some left over.'" And when they had eaten, there was some left over, as the Lord had said.
Studium:
Misplaced modifier?? Did Baal-shalishah give Elisha barley loaves plus corn (fresh grain in the ear)? Or, Did Baal-shalishah give Elisha barley loaves made from first fruits and corn?
It's not important to the point of the reading. Such stories about feeding many people occur in the Old Testament to show God's care for His people. They also give a foretaste of Jesus feeding the five thousand.
Meditatio:
Can God make something from nothing? Of course. And He can also make sure such incidences in both the Old and New Testaments are written down and taught to us. Why? I suggest God miraculously multiplying food is to show us, people, the infinite possibilities our little contribution can make in the Kingdom of God. We should do our little jobs and leave the rest to God.
There's the story of the man who had a huge rock in front of his house. God told him that the rock was important and that the man should push it. So everyday day the man pushed the rock. Day after day the man pushed and pushed. But the rock never moved. Not an inch! Exasperated, the man cried out to God, "I can't move it. It's too much." God replied, "I never told you to move it. I told you to push it." And that's an important lesson: our contribution is not the completion of anything. We all have contributions to make, according to our gifts. We don't see the complete end.
Oratio:
Lord, please give me the grace to do Your Will. I trust that You are in charge and whatever little contribution I make will be according to Your Will.
Contemplati:
You are God. I am not.
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