This video was brought to you by The Dynamic Catholic Ambassadors Club.

You're awesome.

Okay. And then go.

Surrender is—

Fruitful.

Timely.

Possible.

Overflowing.

Let God surprise you.

The sun was brutally hot that day. Dust swirled in the air kicked up by the shuffling feet of thousands of men, women, and children. One family had been following Jesus for days. The parents wanted to see Jesus more than they had ever wanted anything. But the son didn't know why his parents had dragged him along. He was tired. He wished he could be home, playing with his friends. At the same time, he couldn't wait to tell his friends about this. He had never seen anything like this before, all this effort and excitement just to see one man. And of course, he knew what his friends would ask him. And he knew what the answer would be.

They would ask him if he got to meet Jesus, and he would have to say no. It was impossible. There were thousands of men, women, and children. His friends would never be able to understand it. And even if he was able to perfectly describe it, they wouldn't believe him. From the brief glimpses the boy had gotten that day, this Jesus seemed ordinary enough. His face was dusty like everyone else's. He wore ordinary clothes and sandals like everyone else. Though there was something about His eyes, they were kind, they were knowing. Whatever it was about this guy, everyone was drawn to him, like a thousand moths to the brightest flame.

The boy understood very little of what he had seen and heard. It all started when a blind man from his village came into town one night screaming and shouting that he could see. The little boy's friends said the blind man was lying. But he didn't see how someone could lie about something like that. The boy's parents were fascinated. They had been hearing stories from other towns and villages for weeks. But this was a man they had known their whole lives. He had been blind since before they were born. Other stories like these had filtered down through the crowd. He just cured a woman who couldn't walk, they heard one afternoon. Twenty minutes later, a woman was dancing with a stretcher above her head.

"What's he saying?" The boy asked his father. "He's speaking about sowing seeds in rich soil versus rocky ground," his father replied. "What's he talking about now?" The boy asked his father a little later. His father conveyed one line at a time, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. It didn't sound like the world the little boy knew. But what did he know? He was just a child. The sun began to dip toward the horizon and the boy felt his stomach growl. His family had brought along five small barley loaves and two small fish, but they hadn't had a moment's rest to eat them. His father had explained that the crowd might crush them if they stopped to eat. The crowd came to a halt at the top of a large hill overlooking the sea. The boy noticed a group of men moving through the crowd. He recognized some of them as those who were closest to Jesus. "Do you have any food?" the disciples announced as they made their way through the crowd. "The teacher has asked that we gather some food." No one responded. Most people hadn't brought anything. Those that had wanted to keep what they had for themselves. The boy glanced down at the small basket resting near his parents' feet. "Do you have any food?" one of the men asked, stopping right in front of them. The boy watched his parents hesitate. They didn't want to give up their only meal for the day.

Without fully understanding why, the boy reached down, grabbed the basket, and held it up. "We do," he said, "It's not much, just five small barley loaves and two fish." The man guided the boy and his parents through the crowd. All of a sudden, they were standing before the teacher. The boy could have reached out and touched the one they called Jesus. Up close, he seemed even more alive. The little boy noticed he was staring at Jesus. He knew he was, but he couldn't force himself to look away. Jesus was totally captivating. But he wasn't like other powerful men that a little boy had seen pass through his village. Jesus was warm and kind and yet still strong and commanding. There's a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, the disciple reported to Jesus. But what are they among so many? Jesus told the people to sit down. His eyes rested on the boy. Jesus smiled, a brilliant, unforgettable smile, and the boy beamed with joy. "Thank you," Jesus said to the boy. "Then Jesus took the bread and the fish, blessed them, and began to distribute them. The boy had resolved himself to staying hungry. He figured the food would run out almost immediately.

But strangely, even though he had spent the last three hours obsessing about eating, he didn't mind. His resolve was unnecessary. The food didn't run out. More people ate, but there was still food left over. It just kept going. More bread, more fish, more people again and again. The entire crowd ate that day, and they ate until they were full. People who had taken sparingly from the baskets at first received second and third helpings when the baskets kept circulating among the crowd. 5,000 men ate that day, plus all the women and all the children. The boy had never tasted bread so sweet or fish so fresh. And that little boy, his life was changed forever that day. We don't know the boy's name, but I often wonder how his life unfolded after that day. I often wonder what he told his children and grandchildren about Jesus. I wonder so many things. When I study salvation history, the story of God's relationship with humanity, what strikes me over and over again is how much God loves collaborating with human beings. The scriptures are full of stories about God collaborating with His people. He doesn't need us to collaborate with Him. He wants us to collaborate with Him. Collaboration. The pattern is clear. God initiates, invites, waits, empowers, and encourages. We respond, act, trust, and persevere. God's grace is primary, but our human participation is essential.

Of course, we also do our fair share of questioning, doubting, delaying, and complaining. But his patience endures lovingly. The Book of Proverbs reminds us the delight of God is to be with the sons of man. God's delight, not His command, not His obligation, need or requirement; His delight. The great delight of God is not found in isolation or grandeur, but in presence. From the dawn of creation, his heart has been drawn toward the sons and daughters of man. To walk with us in the cool of the day, to remain with us in our weakness, and to rejoice in our becoming. How is God inviting you to collaborate with Him in this season of your life?

Trust, surrender.

Believe.

Receive. Don't let the world steal your wonder.

In today's lesson, Jesus can work miracles with the little we have if we bring it to Him. When we offer Him what little we have, He multiplies it beyond our imagining. Offer him your time, your energy, your talents, and your abilities, your prayers, your relationships, your money, and your career. Offer it all to Him. The miracle begins the moment we stop withholding and start trusting. And the virtue of the day, generosity. The virtue of generosity mirrors the abundance of God's generosity. Generosity is not measured by how much we give, but by how freely we give it. True generosity trusts God enough to place what we have into His hands, believing that He can do far more with it than we ever could on our own. I want to invite you today to join an incredibly generous group of people, the Ambassadors Club. If you're not already a member, click the button below. Choose your welcome gifts. Become an ambassador today. If you're already a member, thank you. Every year, you help us reach millions and millions of people with the life-giving gospel of Jesus and the genius of Catholicism, and we couldn't do it without you. God bless you, have a great day, and remember, Be Bold, Be Catholic.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

God of miracles, wonders, and grace. I thank you for all the good you have done in my life.

For the miracles I recognize.

And the many graces I so often overlook.

I open my heart completely to you today.

Inviting you to completely inhabit my soul.

So that through me.

Others may encounter your love.

Your mercy.

Your compassion.

Your kindness.

And your staggering generosity. Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you, Ambassadors. You are changing the world. Have a great day.

Have a great day.

Have a great day.