“Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish; unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.” Luke 9:12-17
Many theologians of our time estimate that the size of the crowd that was fed on that day could have been between 12,000 to 15,000 men, women and children and they would have filled every seat of the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, AZ. Five loaves of bread and two fish would have filled them up and the cleaning crew would have collected twelve baskets of leftovers; a miracle. Today, Trinity/Hope would need $3,750 to feed this same crowd of men, women and children but there would be no leftovers as we only prepare enough food for those present at school each day. Trinity/HOPE is preparing food for over 22,500 children, teachers and cooks each school day with food purchased in Haiti from local vendors as we continue to help the local economy and not harm it by shipping food there from outside of Haiti. If you have a desire to be a part of our miracle and feed Haitian children please visit our website that is located at trinityhope.org and see the many options how you can join us in feeding a crowd. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Oh, how blest are ye whose toils are ended’ that were written by Simon Dach in 1635.
“Oh, how blest are ye whose toils are ended, who through death have unto God ascended! Ye have arisen from the cares which keep us still in prison. We are still as in a dungeon living, still oppressed with sorrow and misgiving; our undertakings are but toils and troubles and heart-breakings. Ye meanwhile are in your chambers sleeping, quiet, and set free from all our weeping; no cross or sadness there can hinder your untroubled gladness. Christ has wiped away your tears forever; ye have that for which we still endeavor; to you are chanted songs that ne'er to mortal ears were granted. Ah, who would, then, not depart with gladness to inherit heaven for earthly sadness? Who here would languish longer in bewailing and in anguish? Come, 0 Christ, and loose the chains that bind us: lead us forth and cast this world behind us. With Thee, the Anointed, finds the soul its joy and rest appointed.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay