Be that Nameless Boy today

May 2, 2025 – Friday of the Second Week of Easter

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050225.cfm)

We experience hunger when we opt not to eat as what we practice when we fast. Others experience hunger not because they chose not to eat but because they don’t have something to eat. These are forms of physical hunger. Yet, we too might experience hunger for love, for acceptance, for healing, for freedom, for peace, for reconciliation, for justice.

Being aware of these forms of hunger in us and of our need to be satisfied and fulfilled, we too need to be aware of the hunger that others around us are suffering. Our Gospel would actually help us to be more conscious of such hunger and of other forms of hunger around us.

St. John told us that Jesus was aware of the needs of the people. He was not just conscious of their spiritual hunger but even their physical hunger. This consciousness of Jesus impelled him to ask Phillip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” Jesus was not simply seeing their hunger, he too felt their hunger. This urged Jesus to do something.

However, Jesus needed the participation of other people around him. Phillip could not think of anything since they did not have enough money to buy food for all.

It was Andrew who brought to Jesus a boy. The boy had five barley loaves and two fish. The appearance of the boy in the story was very symbolic. He was nameless and faceless. He was just a boy with the little food that he offered to Jesus. Yet, he and his small gesture was already something.

The nameless boy and his small share was the perfect offering that Jesus needed. Out of that small act of kindness, Jesus did something which made everyone to wonder. Indeed, the Gospel tells us of the wonder when a small act of generosity makes a difference to many. That small share given became abundant.

From here, the Risen Jesus invites us too to offer sincerely the little that we have. The world’s problem on hunger is too big for us to respond yet our share is so insignificant. But remember, the five loaves and two fish of that nameless boy were insignificant compared to the five thousand men. And despite, boy did not hide what he had. He, rather, offered generously what he had to Jesus.

The boy and his action tell us now of our own vulnerabilities and insecurities. Yet, that also remind us of the power behind a generous and kind action. To give away the little that we have, makes us insecure. However, it is also through the little that we own that the Lord works wonderfully.

Giving something and feeling how vulnerable we can be also become a true response of generosity. As the Gospel of John tells us, the Lord needs our participation, our small contribution. This is how Jesus works wonders through us and through our small acts of generosity and kindness. In this way, the Lord will be able to continue to feed the various hungers around us. These many hungers involve hunger for food, for shelter, for a home and family, for friendship, for acceptance, for love and intimacy, for healing, or for a deeper relationship with God.

Hence, be that nameless boy today. Hinaut pa.