A life of simplicity and scarcity sometimes may bring fear to our hearts. Not knowing what will happen in the future with our finance, food, and even with our physical body is not what we are accustomed to. Our culture demands an answer to every question, and if no response is attainable, it must not be true or exist. Our minds may grow in this culture of readily available knowledge, but our heart slowly begins to shrink and no longer expands to allow Faith and Love to fill it. If our hearts are not filled with love but mere knowledge of the mind, how can we then give away love? To love much, we must be in love. For those who have experienced the taste of falling in love, it is a state of mind and heart that has no room for fear but completely trust in mystery, wonder, and awe.
The gospel story of Mk 6:34-44 of the “Five Loaves and Two Fish” and feeding the 5,000 is a story of Faith and Love. The faith of trusting what God has given us, no matter how little, and a story of love for the Lord and his people. What may seem like not enough resources, uncomfortable circumstances, and unjust to keep so many people out in the desert with no food and no place to rest their head but just Jesus’s words is what will satisfy the people’s body and soul. Our sense of comfort and satiety provided by this world is only temporary but trusting in the Lord, and his Kingdom gives us eternal comfort when faced with hardship and eternal satisfaction that will keep us full and overflowing with love that spills over to others.
Changing our perception and narrative of scarcity and fear brings forth faith and love to our life.
During these times of uncertainty, we are limited in many ways such as our physical communication with one another, gatherings of large groups, and limited in how we buy food. These limitations are set to get us uncomfortable so that our sense of comfort and satisfaction for this world is aroused and makes us lift our eyes, ears and hearts to God for comfort and fulfillment. If we trust and listen to his truth, what may seem limited and uncomfortable will turn into a blessing in disguise, a blessing that is greater than what we expected. The more we leave fear behind and let faith be in control, the less we will rely on the guarantees of this world made by man and only rely on the guaranteed that God has made with us.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8