Post-feast of the Exaltation of the Cross; Holy Martyrs Trophimus, Sabbatius and Dorymedontus (276-82)
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Galatians 3:23-4:5; Mark 6:30-45
I’m writing this reflection after hearing a talk on my university campus: two speakers debated the extent to which Christians still have a public voice in today’s cultural climate. Both made good points, but I was struck by the appeal of one speaker not to dismiss the possibility of a religious revival. “My faith is based on the work of the Holy Spirit,” he said – “If I have a platform, even an unequal one, I am happy to preach the good news.” Despite an increasingly secular society, he argued, we should not yield public space to the opponents of the gospel, but boldly preach with the expectation that God will open hearts to his word.
Today’s gospel begins with twelve exhausted Apostles – they have been doing missionary work for a while, and they need a rest. Often, we feel like that. Our retreat is interrupted, and suddenly we have to feed a huge crowd. We’d like Jesus to send this multitude away, but he challenges us: “You give them something to eat.” Like the Apostles, we are tempted to dismiss this as fanciful nonsense: we’re faced with insurmountable odds, overwhelming numbers. But when the first Christians cooperated with Christ, a great miracle took place. And the same potential for miracles, for the feeding of thousands on spiritual (and physical) food, on the bread of life, can become a reality, if we are willing, like the speaker I heard tonight (and the Apostles), to trust the Holy Spirit – and then to use our platform.