Homily 17th Sunday OT 28th July 2024

The Gospel story of the small boy who had five loaves and two fishes offers us some very useful insights. The importance of making the effort and let Christ be the architect of its effects.

There is a very profound truth in all of this, those who live in God’s world never know the final outcome, the full effects of their efforts. That is so because it is, God’s world. It is God who builds it and by God’s choice part of the essential raw material of that building is the effort that we make. That means that there is a real sense in which God depends, in the building of the kingdom, on the efforts that we make to be virtuous.

Just think of all the times in the course of our lives that each of us is asked to make an effort at virtue. An effort which may not seem to pay off at all. The times we are asked to be charitable to someone whom we know is going to try and take advantage of us. The times we are asked to forgive someone whom we know is going to hurt us again. The endless demands on patience that are made of those who live in the company of other human beings, even though it never seems to be enough. Every Christian, sooner or later  has to ask, “is it really worth is.” If I give up my personal five loaves and two fish, is anything good going to come of it?

Christian tradition answers that with an insistent clarity: Yes. It is certainly worth it. Something good will come of it.

To the next question, “Why?” – Christian tradition answers with an equally insistent clarity, “I don’t know. But it will.”

It is not the greatness of our accomplishments that God values, it is the sincerity of our efforts. Accomplishments are Gods concern. Effort is ours.

Fr Andrew