Have you ever been in a situation where you planned for 10 people, but then, without warning, there are 15. What to do? Jesus faces a similar situation in this week’s Gospel. In their admiration of him, people have been following Jesus. Without any pre-planning, Jesus sees the crowd, understands their need, cures the sick and preaches. As evening approaches, the disciples ask Jesus to dismiss the crowd because there is no food available. In fact, there are only five loaves of bread and two fish.

Miraculously, there is enough food for all. Actually, there is food left over. A little food was able to satisfy a huge crowd.

Thinking about this situation with Jesus and the many similar situations in our own lives, we can reasonably ask: “How much is enough? How much do we really need?” The Gospel tells us that a little can be more than enough. In our own lives, we have probably experienced the same reality that a small amount can be enough even though we thought we would need more.

Even the first reading of today’s Mass emphasizes that we should come to God because there is always enough. In fact, if we go to God, we will have life.

Hearing these words is truly an invitation for us to reflect both on how generous we have been and where we have looked for life.

So, how generous have we been and should we be? Mother Teresa said it best: “We can’t do great things; we can only do small things with great love.”

Her phrasing provides a key to success in our world? The disciples fretted over the small amount of available food. Jesus’ approach was radically different. For him, there was enough because he did all things with love. Was this a great miracle? Or, perhaps, it was a small miracle with great results? “Yes” answers both questions. The message for us: we will accomplish much if we do all with great love.

Then, there’s that other pesky question: “Where have we looked for life?” The apostles wanted to look beyond the available food. Jesus said no. There was enough food already there. We tackle that same question every now and then, especially at the big moments in our lives. Where do we find our sustenance, our hope, the meaning of life itself?

Over the many years of our lives, we may have done a good job, or we may have not been as good. If we have done well, thanks be to God. If we have not done well, we should recognize that is not a permanent condition. No matter our current age, there is still time, but that time is not limitless.

The lesson of today’s liturgy is clear. Come to the Lord in his abundance, find life in the Lord, live life to the fullest by doing all things with love.

Perhaps, St. Ignatius of Loyola said it best with these brief words: “Work as if everything depends on you, but pray as if everything depends on God.”