As we look forward in hope during these Advent days, we find that we can hope in our God who will provide for our needs. I know that I've always been inspired by people who so completely trust in the Lord that they don't worry about what they will have today or tomorrow. That's what the Lord instructs us to do in the Gospels, of course, but I know that I find it so hard to live that way. Maybe that's because I'm an inherent worrier, a pastoral skill that I am convinced I picked up from my parents!
The disciples were worried, too, in today's Gospel. With all these people so strongly attracted to Jesus and his healing ministry, they wondered where they'd get food enough to feed them all. But Jesus takes the seven loaves and a few fish that they had and makes enough to feed the multitudes and have seven baskets left over.
We can be worrier-disciples in our lives. And some of that is healthy, but not when it gets in the way of our trusting in Jesus. This is Jesus, after all, who can feed the multitudes, walk on water, and rise triumphant over death. There isn't a care in the world that we have that he can't provide for. He is the one of whom the Prophet speaks in the first reading today, the one who can provide rich food and choice wines, all while destroying death forever. We can rejoice with the Psalmist that in Christ, we will live in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives.