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“The church lives from the center with its eyes on the borders” Robert Hawkins. |
Mission Link – August 2009
Confidence
Mother Teresa told this story. “In Beirut when I wanted to go across the lines and fetch the children, I was reminded that I would have to cross the fighting lines and may be shot at. I insisted: ‘No, tomorrow there will be a truce – the fighting will stop.’ The sisters prayed that there will be a ceasefire and truce tomorrow. And so it was. We took charge of the orphaned and crippled children and brought them safely home.” Some people might call this a miracle. Others might call it good luck or wishful thinking. I think it is an act of confidence.
I meet Christians who seem to live life with this kind of confidence. It’s not that they are unaware of the dangers and difficulties, pain and suffering in the world. In fact, facing their own powerlessness and pain has led them to a kind of fidelity and trust that defies conventional wisdom. Facing times of scarcity, loss and powerlessness can become a kind of school of the Gospel that leads us to God’s abundant life.
During these weeks of summer, we have been invited, in the Sunday Gospel reading, to enter into the story of the multiplication of loaves and fishes. The disciples of Jesus were overwhelmed by the hungers of the crowd. One response to scarcity is like that of Phillip who feels powerless because the needs are too many. Another response is like that of Andrew who sees bread and fish but it is too limited to make any difference. Only when the little boy is willing to offer all he has is Jesus able to bring about a multiplication that satisfies the hungers of the crowd. It seems that this act of self giving is exactly what Jesus is looking for. Jesus gives thanks for the offering of loaves and fishes because it reflects the bread from Heaven that God has always been offering to the world.
The nature of God is that of self-giving. Jesus’ life among us revealed the depth and breath of God’s eternally giving nature. Jesus opened us to the abundant universe of God’s love. Jesus showed us that the way to abundance is opened to us as we are willing to offer ourselves in faith.
I meet Christians here and abroad who live and serve in the midst of dire circumstances without despairing or burning out. They give what they have and offer who they are freely. They know how to surrender what they don’t have in prayer to God’s providence. They live with confidence in God’s abundant mercy to supply the gifts that are needed and they are not afraid.
I still don’t know why times of scarcity and loss can become such sacred guides and teachers leading us into God’s abundance. I don’t know why the act of entrusting our loaves and fishes can bring about a multiplication that satisfies hungry crowds. I don’t know why the act of praying in faith to God for what we need and desire does make a difference in the world. All I do know is that it is true. I am confident that it is in giving that you receive; it is in losing your life that it is returned to you in abundance.