When Our Limits Become God’s Starting Point

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Gospel today begins with what seems like an impossible situation. Jesus withdraws to a deserted place after hearing of the death of John the Baptist, but the crowds follow Him. The disciples quickly begin to see all the problems. Jesus, however, sees something different. The disciples see limits; Jesus sees an opportunity for grace. There are three problems in this Gospel that are also the three problems we often face in our own lives.

First, the location problem.

The disciples say, “This is a deserted place.” In other words, “Lord, we’re in the wrong place.” There are no stores. No restaurants. No resources. Nothing around them suggests that five thousand people could be fed. Isn’t that how we often think? We tell God, “If only I lived somewhere else… If only I had a different family… a different parish… a different job… then I could really serve You.”

We think holiness depends on a better location. But Jesus never waits for the perfect place. He works right where people are. The desert becomes a dining room. The empty place becomes a place of abundance. Sometimes God doesn’t change our location because He wants to change our perspective.

Second, the time problem.

The disciples continue, “It is already late.” Translation: “Jesus, we’ve missed our chance.” How many people believe that about their lives? “I’m too old.”, “I wasted too many years.”, “It’s too late to fix my marriage.”, “It’s too late to come back to God.”, “It’s too late to begin again.”

The disciples thought the day was ending. Jesus knew His work wasn’t. God is never trapped by the clock. Some of His greatest miracles happen when people think the opportunity has already passed. The Gospel reminds us that God’s timing is often different from ours. What feels like the end may simply be the moment He begins.

Third, the resource problem.

Finally, the disciples say, “We have only five loaves and two fish.” Notice that little word: only. They focus on what they don’t have. Jesus focuses on what they do have. The miracle never starts with abundance. It starts with surrender.

Five loaves. Two fish. Open hands. That’s enough for Jesus. Many of us spend our lives saying, “I only have this much faith… only this much patience… only this much talent.” Jesus never asks us for what we don’t have. He asks for what we are willing to place into His hands.

The disciples had one solution to every problem: “Send the crowds away.” That sounds reasonable. When life becomes difficult, our instinct is often to send things away. Avoid the problem. Walk away from the responsibility. Let someone else deal with it.

But Jesus has another solution. He tells the people to sit down. He takes what little is offered. He blesses it. He breaks it. He gives it away. Doesn’t that sound familiar?

Every Eucharist follows the same pattern. Jesus still takes. Jesus still blesses. Jesus still breaks. Jesus still gives. And perhaps that is also the story of every disciple. God takes our lives, blesses us with His grace, allows us to be broken by life’s trials, and then sends us out to become nourishment for others. The miracle was never just about feeding hungry people.

It was about teaching the disciples that when they place their limitations into the hands of Christ, those limitations become the beginning of God’s miracle.

Today, Jesus asks each of us the same question: Will you keep counting your problems, or will you trust My power? Because where we see a location problem, a time problem, and a resource problem, Jesus simply sees another opportunity to reveal the Father’s love.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, so often I focus on what is missing instead of what You are doing. I complain about where I am, worry that it’s too late, and believe I don’t have enough to offer. Teach me to place my little into Your hands. Transform my deserts into places of grace, my delays into moments of hope, and my small gifts into blessings for others. May I stop asking You to send people away and instead trust that You can feed every hunger through a heart that is willing to say, “Here I am.” Amen.

– Homily by Rev Fr Patrick Agbeko