From no more than five loaves and two fish, Jesus feeds more than five thousand.  All eat and have their fill, and there are leftovers still.

A small mustard seed turns into a large bush; a bit of yeast leavens the whole batch.  In a similar way, five loaves and two fish multiply so that many folks have their fill of them.

For, indeed, the small and lowly beginnings of the kingdom of heaven lead to big endings.  And many and big gains come out of the little that is placed in the service of the kingdom of heaven.

Hence, we should not deem what is little and what is small to be of little worth.  After all, to be true in what is small and in little things is to be true in great things (SV.EN IX:251; (SV.EN X:205-207).  Also, what prepares us for greater anguish, distress, persecution are our little or minor brushes with conflict (SV.EN XII:230).

In fact, the gestures of goodness and justice that Jesus sows are not at all grandiose and spectacular.  And St. Vincent, for his part, just answers situations of poverty that are before him.  And his little and small answers lead to great and surprising foundations (SV.EN IX:192-193, 472-473; SV.EN XII:8).

Yes, if we do the little we should do and put it in Jesus’ hands, it will be enough.  It will multiply like the five loaves and two fish.  Like the 57 pennies of a little girl which lead to the building of a bigger church.  Of even a university, Temple University.

Lord Jesus, saddened by John’s death, you withdraw to a quiet and deserted place.  Yet you seek more not your own good but that of the others.  So, you cure them and, with five loaves and two fish, give them food at no cost to them.  Let the little we bring be part of the gift of self that you make.  For you give up your body and shed your blood for others.

2 August 2026
18th Sunday in O.T. (A)
Is 55, 1-3; Rom 8, 35. 37-39; Mt 14, 13-21