What Will You Bring to the Table?
Music has often helped enhance my memory through catchy tunes. A favorite song of mine is You Raise Me Up by Brendan Graham and Rolf Løvland.  I was surprised to find that what I thought was such a tried and tested hymn has only been around for a little over 20 years. Its message offers so many lessons, particularly, that with God's help, we can achieve the infinite. 
“When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until You come and sit awhile with me.” (© Universal Music Publishing Ab)
We often think our efforts are not enough. Who am I, amongst all the pristine social media profiles advertising "success stories" of the rich and famous? In today’s Gospel the disciples, overwhelmed by the hungry crowd, say to Jesus: “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” The young boy who offered his five loaves and two fish may have initially been perceived as a minor character and perhaps still is today. We don't know the boy's name or his backstory, but he stepped up, providing that sustenance through which Jesus could work a miracle. Without his offering, it is unclear what might have happened next. 
God teaches us that we are nourished by the gifts we offer to one another. Even the simplest of actions, like offering a shoulder to cry on when someone has lost a loved one, can make a big difference. Whether young or old, we can often feel helpless in situations that seem overwhelming. However, we must remember that nothing is insurmountable for God. As the chorus of You Raise Me Up declares, "I am strong, when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up to more than I can be."
By Alexis Dallara-Marsh