1 John 4 : 7-10
Mark 6 : 34-44
Generally speaking, we have two types of reactions to a situation.
Either we react to it emotionally, or we react to it rationally.
When Jesus saw the large crowd, He took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and He set Himself to teach them at some length.
It was understandable that Jesus felt for the people, or if we wish to say, He acted from His emotions.
But it went to the extent that He ignored the rationality of feeding the crowd of 5000 with five loaves and two fish.
His disciples seemed to be more rational, especially when it was going to cost them 200 days' wages, since the avearage wage for a day was 1 denarii.
But Jesus challenged His disciples to gather what was available. And from what was available, out came a miracle.
Essentially, today's gospel passage continues the Epiphany message that God is our Helper and Provider.
Yet like the disciples, we often use too much of our rationality.
But what the Lord is asking of us is our availability.
To serve the Lord is to make our hearts available for Him.
Hence, we have to feel the promptings, especially the challenges the Lord is giving us, just like He challenged His disciples when He told them : Give them something to eat yourselves.
It is not so much our rationality that matters when we serve the Lord, but rather our availability for Him to do great wonders through us.