08/09/2026

A few years ago, I bought an electric bike, mostly to travel back and forth between our two parish campuses. Before owning one, I assumed an e-bike did all the work. In reality, there are different kinds. Some are almost like electric motorcycles: you turn the throttle and off you go. You hardly have to do anything except steer. Mine isn't like that. With my bike, I still have to pedal. If I simply sit there, nothing happens. In fact, because it's heavier than a regular bicycle, it's actually harder to ride if the motor isn't turned on. But once I switch on the motor and begin pedaling—even if all I can offer is my own limited effort—the electric assist kicks in. Suddenly I'm moving much faster and farther than I ever could on my own.

I've often thought about that while reflecting on the Gospel story of the feeding of the five thousand. The disciples notice what everyone else notices: the crowd is hungry. They come to Jesus with what seems like a practical solution. "Send them away so they can buy themselves something to eat." Jesus answers with a surprising command: "You give them something to eat." The disciples immediately begin calculating. Five loaves. Two fish. Thousands of people. They are absolutely right about one thing: what they have is not enough. But they do have something. And that "something" is enough for Jesus to work with.

That's what reminds me of my electric bike. I still have to pedal. The motor doesn't replace my effort; it empowers it. If I refuse to pedal because I can't possibly make the whole trip on my own strength, I go nowhere. But if I begin with what I have, the power that's already there comes alongside me and carries me much farther than I could ever go by myself. The disciples offered Jesus their five loaves and two fish. They couldn't perform the miracle. But they were willing to place what little they had into his hands.

There is an important lesson here for every disciple. We face a challenge and immediately think about everything we lack. We don't have enough time. Enough energy. Enough knowledge. Enough confidence. Enough faith. And because we believe we don't have enough, we end up doing nothing at all. Jesus gently interrupts that way of thinking with a simple command: "You give them something."

Perhaps this happens most often in our spiritual lives. Sometimes we wait for God to do everything for us. We hope for some overwhelming spiritual experience- a dramatic conversion, a lightning bolt of insight, an unmistakable feeling of peace, or a sudden burst of faith. When those extraordinary moments don't come, we become discouraged and conclude that God isn't doing anything.

But perhaps God is waiting for us to begin. We want to pray, but we haven't actually set aside time to pray. We want to become more patient, but we haven't practiced patience in the ordinary irritations of daily life. We want to become generous, but we haven't given anything away. We want to feel close to God, but we haven't opened our hearts to him. Sometimes we are waiting for God to move while God is waiting for us to take the first step.

This seems to be part of what Jesus is teaching his disciples in the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He is training them not to be bystanders but collaborators. Disciples are not spectators; disciples are doers.

Of course, God is the one who performs the miracle. The disciples do not multiply the bread. They cannot feed thousands by their own power. But Jesus deliberately chooses to accomplish the miracle through them.

That reveals something profound about the Christian life. God does not ask for our participation because he is incapable of acting without us. He certainly could. Rather, he invites us into his work because he wants us to share in it. He wants us to grow. He wants us to become people whose faith is active rather than passive.

Most parents understand this instinctively. You encourage your child to do something independently, even though you know you'll step in if help is truly needed. Good teachers don't immediately give students every answer. They let them wrestle with the problem first because the struggle itself is part of the learning. Anyone who has lifted weights with a spotter knows the same principle. The spotter stands ready with hands near the bar, but doesn't lift the weight for you unless it becomes necessary. God often works with us in much the same way.

People sometimes quote the saying, "God helps those who help themselves." Strictly speaking, that's not a Christian teaching. Christianity has never been about saving ourselves through our own efforts. Everything begins with God's grace. But perhaps we could say it this way instead: God helps those who are willing to help.

Grace is not a substitute for our effort. Grace empowers our effort. The disciples had only five loaves and two fish. They could have looked at the crowd, shrugged their shoulders, and said, "It's hopeless." Instead, they gave Jesus what they had. And that was enough.

Whatever challenge you are facing today, perhaps the first question isn't, "Do I have enough?" Perhaps the better question is, "What do I have?" What little bit of time can I offer? What small act of kindness can I perform? What conversation needs to begin? What first step can I take?

Compared to the need in front of you, your contribution may seem as insignificant as five loaves and two fish. But place it into Jesus' hands anyway. The miracle does not begin when we finally have everything we think we need. The miracle begins when we are willing to give Jesus everything we already have.

Like riding an electric bike, the Christian life still requires us to pedal. But once we do, Christ supplies the power.
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- Rev. James F. Hurlbert