Matthew’s account of the Feeding of the Multitudes (Mt 14:13-21) is one of my favorite Bible stories. This episode in Jesus’ ministry teaches us to take what we have, give thanks to God for it, divide it among the gathered community, and discover that there is always enough to go around. In fact, there will be more than enough — leftovers for those who don’t make it to the table.

What is commonly called “the miracle of the loaves and fish” can be compared to a potluck, only much more. The teachings are the same: the combination of community, sharing, and faith leading us from scarcity to abundance. In some ways, that is the very essence of Christianity.

Potlucks can take place only in a community. They can’t happen alone. They are, by their very nature, a community event. Certainly, there will be private moments in a Christian life, but for the most part, our Christian living takes place in the context of community. The community takes what we have to offer, and the community gives back what we need.

Potlucks are about sharing. The miracle of the story of the loaves and fish is that by his own behavior Jesus taught people to share what they had, and there was enough. Think about how he orchestrated the feast. He told the crowd to sit down on the grass. Then, he took what he had (actually what the disciples had), looked up to heaven, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples to distribute among the people.

Here’s what I think happened. When the disciples began distributing what they had to offer, others came forward to share what they had to offer. Surely some of the 5000 people gathered had brought a basket or sack of food with them; some of them were probably on the way to and from the market. Others probably had a piece of bread, cheese, or fruit in their satchels. In those days, few people left home for a day in the countryside without something to eat. It would have been foolish to leave home so unprepared. After all, there were no McDonald’s restaurants on the highway.

So when Jesus lifted up his food to God and instructed the disciples to pass it among the crowd, people came forward with their offerings. “I have a little cheese; I have a loaf of bread; I have an orange; I have a bit of wine – let me share this as well.” And when the people shared, there was enough to eat, and there were leftovers.

Potlucks are about having faith that when we share what we have with the community, there will be enough. Once again, it is the principle of abundance versus scarcity: a radical, deviant, creative principle that if practiced can change both individual and collective life on this earth. The story of the bread and the fish summarizes one of the most essential teachings of our Lord. That’s why it’s found in all four gospels!

When Jesus lifted the bread and fish up to ask for God’s blessing upon it, he was taking a risk. He didn’t know for certain if there would be enough. However, he had faith that there would be enough. That’s what it’s all about: faith that there will be enough--enough food for the meal, enough money for the budget, enough time for the project, enough of whatever we need to fulfill our obligations to ourselves, our families, our communities, our world, and our God.

And here’s the kicker, the punch line. Jesus always asks more of us than we think we have to give: more love to offer when we’re running on empty; more tests to take when we’re exhausted; more mouths to feed when the pantry shelves are bare; more bills to pay when the checking account is empty.

Bring to me what you have, Jesus says. Bring me your skills and weaknesses; your strengths and fears; your burdens, challenges, and responsibilities; your hopes, dreams, and convictions; your past, present, and future. Bring it all to me, and I will make you adequate. I will make you enough for whatever you have to face, today tomorrow, and then some.

Like many during this pandemic, I miss eating with others. While I am profoundly grateful that I have enough to eat, a safe place to eat, and a loving partner with whom to eat, I miss eating breakfast and chatting with neighbors at my local diner. I miss catching up with colleagues over a leisurely lunch. I miss gathering family and friends together at dinner parties. I also miss potlucks, especially church potlucks, complete with jello molds, potato salad, and fried chicken.

And I miss the Eucharist, blessing and sharing bread and wine with people with whom I might not otherwise dine at a breakfast, lunch, or dinner table.

Reading again one of my favorite Bible stories this week, I remembered all those times around the table. As I long for the day when we can re-gather, I renew my vow to share my time, talent, and treasure with others, believing Jesus when he says there is more than enough of me and you and our collective resources to go around, believing his promise that if we will share what we have, not only will there be enough, there will be leftovers.

May it be so!