The plane taxied to the edge of the runway and suddenly just stopped. Soon the captain made the announcement every passenger dreads. A storm had shut down the airport and several other major airports in the area. Other aircraft had already filled the gates back at the terminal. All the planes on the runway would have to stay where they were since no gates were available to return to the terminal and allow the passengers to get off. In addition, to make matters worse, the crew had just discovered that the airline's catering service had not fully re-stocked the plane. All the food and beverage compartments on board were empty.
The passengers began to grumble about their situation. Then one of the flight attendants, sensing the mood of the passengers, did something extraordinary. She took the intercom mike and said, "We're really sorry, folks. We didn't plan on this and there's not much we can do about it. I know that some of you are hungry and were looking forward to a nice lunch on our long flight west. Some of you may have a medical condition and really need lunch. So here's what we're going to do: I have a couple of breadbaskets up here and we're going to pass them around. I am asking you to put something in the basket. Some of you brought a little snack or something to tide you over. If you don't have anything edible, you may have something to help others pass our time of waiting. So please, everyone, put something in the basket, then we'll reverse the process and everybody can take out what he or she needs."
What happened next was amazing. The complaining stopped; tempers cooled as each person started to rummage through their handbags and briefcases and pockets. Boxes of candy, snacks, even a salami, and a bottle of wine appeared and were shared. Those who didn't have food placed magazines and puzzle books in the baskets and even some postcards and photos of pets that helped begin conversations among the passengers.
The flight attendant had transformed a mob, a group of strangers focused on themselves and their need and deprivation, into a community of people giving and sharing of their abundance.
The flight attendant later said that she got the idea from her memory of the Gospel in which Jesus transforms a mass of hungry people into a community of sharing.
In this week’s Gospel Jesus transforms a hungry crowd into a community. The multiplication of the loaves and fish did not start with nothing. Jesus was able to feed the crowds because one boy was willing to share what little he had. From his gift, small though it was, Jesus worked a wonder.
Eucharist is possible when we see ourselves not as individuals but as parts of a community. Eucharist is experienced when serving others is valued over being served and when differences are dissolved in light of the common life we share. In the Eucharist of the mass, we are invited, no rather we are expected, to become what we receive: one bread, one cup, one body, one family.
We should all be able to recall at least one time in the past month when we gave up what we had for the sake of another; some time, some concern, some words of encouragement, or maybe some anger, resentment, or jealousy. If you cannot remember a time you let go of yourself to serve or help another, perhaps you need to adopt the attitude of the young boy who stood before Jesus and could give what he had because he knew he would still have enough. No matter what we give in Jesus’ name we too will still have enough!
Father Don
