Trusting in the promise
“Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” How often do we reasonate with the disciples’ questioning their ability to meet a seemingly impossible need? In our work, we wonder where will we get the resources to help and what can possibly be done for those with so many dire needs.
When facing such despair, we thankfully have a firm promise from Jesus to provide. When feeding the four thousand, He took a few fish and loaves of bread and had more than enough for the hungry crowd. He provided when there was no other option. And so too it is with us and those we serve.
We are to do our absolute best and work as hard as we can, yet at the same time hand over our trust to Jesus’ promise. We will not necessarily know when or how this promise will be fulfilled. But we need to walk with those we serve and provide them with this vision — this possibility of what could be, this hope. We will not always be able to meet every need, but we can always provide hope and a reason to keep trying and move forward.
I know I can go into problem-solving mode and mistakenly think I can figure it out and control the outcome and timeline. But when I let go of this improper view and better align myself with Jesus’ promise, I can be more present to the person I am serving and be open to what other ways He might be working and go far beyond what I could ever have done.
I pray that this Advent season we can enter into the peace of His promise a little more fully to buoy ourselves and, more importantly, those we serve.
Michael Smith is chief program officer at Catholic Charities Maine and a member of CCUSA’s Management and Administration Steering Committee and Aging Steering Committee.