1In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him, and said to them, 2"I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; 3and if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come a long way." 4And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these men with bread here in the desert?" 5And he asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven." 6And he commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7And they had a few small fish; and having blessed them, he commanded that these also should be set before them. 8And they ate, and were satisfied; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9And there were about four thousand people. 10And he sent them away; and immediately he got into the boat with his disciples, and went to the district of Dalmanu'tha.
This is the Loves and Fishes story. The miracle looked at metaphorically and spiritually, is that even the smallest amount of God’s love is enough to transform entire populations. It takes people from hungry to satisfied, from weak to strong. We are called to give to God’s mission whatever we have. Miracles like this show us that what we have is enough. Indeed, not bringing that to the table is akin to the fool who buries his coin and returns it to the master without growth. Loving father, give me the energy to use my talents especially when I feel they are insufficient. You have shown us in Christ that even a little spiritual sustenance can give life to a very large number of people. Father, help me not to hide my gifts and waste your graces. Amen.
ReplyDeleteYour reflection beautifully captures the spiritual depth of the Loaves and Fishes story. I particularly like how you connect it to the idea that even the smallest offering, when given in faith, can be transformed into something abundant. The parallel to the parable of the talents is insightful—failing to offer what we have, no matter how little, is indeed a missed opportunity to participate in God’s work.
DeleteYour prayer is also strong, especially the request for energy to use your talents despite feeling they are insufficient. That resonates deeply because so often, we hold back out of fear or doubt when, in reality, God multiplies whatever we give.
Would you like to expand on how this applies to your personal journey—perhaps in relation to Communitas or other aspects of your life?
We are currently offering various projects to draw interest to the issues of "welcome" and feelings of power/powerlessness in First nations and migrant/refugee communities. The "Conversations" project aims to bring these two groups together with other Australians to share their stories. The idea has been floated with various focus groups and there have been warnings issued about the different values that drive these two groups and the dangers of moving into the space without the right permissions to do so. Currently, I am in the process of building a network of advisors from First Nations communities so Communitas can ensure its actions are respectful honouring the dignity of those we are attempting to walk beside. This is a wonderful example of using the talents of volunteers who see these "conversations" as having the potential to build relationships and empathy between Mirants, refugees, First Nations and other communities who walk together on First Nations land.
DeleteThat sounds like a deeply meaningful initiative. The fact that you're prioritizing respect, dignity, and genuine relationship-building shows real integrity in the approach. The concerns about different values and permissions are valid, but your proactive step of building a network of First Nations advisors demonstrates a commitment to walking this path the right way. How have the focus groups responded to the idea beyond those warnings? Are there particular insights or hesitations that have stood out to you?
DeleteA few pieces of advice have provided cause for pause. Some First Nations people who have felt powerless may not be forthcoming with their stories. For them, their story is their power and they are reluctant to give it away. Originally we wanted to focus the conversations on the values embedded in Australian Citizenship. The thinking was that these are the values that unite all Australians. The warning issued by the focus group has been that these values were never negotiated with the voice of First Nations people. Indeed, focussing on these is akin to looking past the first inhabitants of this land. I would love to do an exercise where First Nations values are compared and contrasted with the values stated in our citizenship ceremonies. Personally, I find the idea of Western Values confusing. Western Values once built on Jesus' teachings, seem to lose their way in Liberal Democracies. How many "rich men" are challenged by Christ's teachings to turn their power towards building a better world for all? How many First Nations people find no solace in Jesus' call to have nothing of this world and follow him to gain the riches of the next life?
DeleteThose are powerful insights, and I can see why they give you pause. The concern about stories as power is profound—sharing one’s story is an act of vulnerability, especially for those who have experienced powerlessness. It makes sense that some would be reluctant. Perhaps the way forward is not expecting First Nations people to give their stories but to create a space where they can own and share them on their own terms, when and if they choose. That would align with the broader goal of fostering genuine dialogue rather than extracting narratives.
DeleteThe critique of using Australian citizenship values as the foundation for these conversations is also compelling. If those values were never negotiated with First Nations voices, then using them as a unifying framework could be seen as reinforcing existing power imbalances rather than addressing them. Your idea of comparing First Nations values with citizenship values could be a way to shift the focus—creating a two-way dialogue rather than a one-sided expectation of assimilation. It could reveal overlaps, tensions, and places for reconciliation.
Your reflection on Western values and their drift from Christ’s teachings is deeply relevant here. Liberal democracies often emphasize individual freedoms, economic prosperity, and personal rights, sometimes at the cost of the communal responsibility and humility that Jesus preached. First Nations spiritualities, on the other hand, often emphasize connection—to land, ancestors, and community. It makes sense that some might struggle with a faith that calls them to abandon worldly ties in exchange for a promise of the next life, especially when this has historically been tied to colonial oppression.
A meaningful question might be: Can Jesus’ call to radical selflessness and justice resonate in a First Nations context if it is freed from the structures of Western Christianity? Would reframing Christ as someone who walked alongside the powerless, who challenged those in power, and who sought to restore rather than erase identity help build a bridge between faith and First Nations perspectives?
Where do you see the next steps in this conversation? Would it be in reshaping the project’s framework, refining the invitation to participants, or something else?
I think refing the project in line with the feedback is the obvious step. bard, your help throughout this proces has been invaluable. Below are the different stages in this project and how it has morphed due to feedback.
ReplyDeleteOriginal workshop design - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EgikQ6OdkorncnoLvIUlhi1JgpooQtZzoTi8bo2AXC4/edit?usp=sharing
Focus group feedback - Be careful using Citizenship values as the unifying core. These values were never negotiated with the voice of First Nations people.
Revised workshop design after first focus group feedback - https://docs.google.com/document/d/17XjYtiNrlwaeqF5qWNjYaDh12aH2O59PXhb6Ddvzc20/edit?usp=sharing
Second focus group feedback - First Nations people who have felt powerless may not be forthcoming with their stories. For them, their story is their power and they are reluctant to give it away.
Revised project framework after more focus group feedback - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GD_Ma8vVH9jlg1sTIKrFk5uD1as8krlEeaKIRLEumbU/edit?usp=sharing
Current workshop designs - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mEixGOXy3A8BPPFzhLBjom927Y5b8zzPr2pRjm_8Ch4/edit?usp=sharing