Sundays with CWM (25 July): Five Loaves and Two Fish

by CWM Communications Team

2 Kings 4:42-44; John 6:1-21; Ephesians 3:14-21

How do you feed 5000 mouths? Six months’ worth of minimum wage would not be enough! Then Andrew found a little boy with his small snack. He could have disregarded the boy, but he brought his desperate question to Jesus, “But what are they among so many?!”

“There is a little boy here,” said Andrew. John the gospel writer uses the Greek paidarion to emphasise that it is not just a boy but a little one. “He has five barley loaves.” Unlike the other synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), John uses the Greek krithinous, which refers to the poorest, coarsest kind of bread. “And two small fish.” Again, a different Greek word is used for fish, opsaria, meaning tiny fish.

Jesus answered that desperate cry. In his hands, all had as much as they wanted, with 12 baskets leftover. This is like what Elisha did in 2 Kings 4:42-44, though on a grander scale. Elisha’s many miracles in the Old Testament demonstrated that God is the giver of life, and people should seek Him, not other gods. He is the God who provided manna in a desert for refugees from slavery.

But what can a child do? “13-year-old girl raises over S$164,000 for e-scooter accident victim”— said the headline of an article in Singapore’s newspaper The Straits Times on Oct 14, 2020. A 57-year old lady was hit by an electric scooter. As a result, she is no longer able to speak and needs help with eating, dressing and using the bathroom. The rider was sued but refused to pay.

A little girl, with the help of her parents, started a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the victim. Despite being shy, she reached out to her school and to strangers.

Don’t just look at the needs and your inability. Look to God. Ephesians 3:14-21 extols God as the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. God’s power is at work within you to accomplish far more than all you can ask or imagine. What one small thing is God calling you to do?

-Maggie Low, Presbyterian Church in Singapore

Prayer

Tell God a problem that you or your community are facing :                                                          . We can do nothing but come to you, for you are the giver of life, provider of all we need.

Help me do any small thing you call me to do, and multiply it to accomplish your will. Help me to: ___________.

Prayer Points

Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

Lord Jesus Christ, we lift to you our praise, thanks and intercessions: Humbly we thank you for protecting our people and sustaining Taiwan’s president, government, CDC and health workers to lead the nation with wisdom and transparency in the unprecedented battle against COVID-19 We thank you for resources to support other countries and partners in small ways during the global pandemic

Hear our cry for the:

  • Health challenges of Rev. Lyim Hong-Tiong, the outgoing General Secretary
  • PCT General Secretary elect, Rev. Tan Sin-Liong and the programme secretariat – give them clear vision, wisdom and unity to accompany the church in her mission tasks
  • Smooth transition of PCT General Assembly office staff and ministries (July 2021)
  • Renewal of the mission commitment of our congregations to honour you and serve others
  • Taiwan’s preparations for the 2023 World Day of Prayer
  • Ongoing bible translations into Taiwan’s indigenous languages
  • Theological and spiritual formation of students in three PCT seminaries

In your powerful name we pray, Amen.

 

 

You may also like

Leave a Comment