“Let them eat cake.”  Apparently, this was a phrase Maria Antoinette said when the people of France were starving before the Revolution.  This phrase has been since then disputed whether she said it or not.  This phrase has also been misinterpreted.  For some it meant she had no idea of the reality of the hunger were experiencing in the ground. If they could not afford bread, much less cake. For others it meant a derisive way of saying to the people “you are on your own.”  This is what the first reading also illustrates with the people asking how it would be possible to feed more than one hundred people. They are dissuading the prophet Elisha from doing something, and basically telling him to let them be on their own, find their own food, and to no longer bother the prophet.  Large numbers became cumbersome and an obstacle for them to provide some food for sustenance, for them it was better to dismiss the people.  Something similar is happening in the Gospel but even with more people. The answer of Phillip shows he was worried about the logistics, and the cost.  For Phillip, not even one hundred day’s wages would be enough to buy food for some of the people.  It is better to disperse and sent them on their own.  Numbers overwhelmed them, but more precisely their unwillingness to help, to be bothered, to give the people something to eat.   One of the works of mercy is I was hungry, and you fed me, but some  do not want to bother to implement this work of mercy, not for one person, much less for a thousand persons.  How many times have we encountered a person asking for money on the streets for food?  Yet we do not trust them, and very often go right away to negative thinking, with thoughts such as “Why do I even give money to them?  They are going to spend it in cigarettes or buying alcohol.”  We are very good at offering criticism but not food.  The last two weeks we have seen images God calls us to be for others: a prophet (even if people are rebellious), an evangelizer (who lives simply, and preaches the Gospel), and most recently a true shepherd (after the heart of Jesus).  Today’s readings call us to be good providers, to not just give up, and become overwhelmed with big numbers, but to trust in God’s divine providence.  Good providers have a spirit of generosity, even with the little resources they may have, God will add more.  Just a little fish and a little bread, and God will take care to feed the rest and even there will still be some leftovers.  Good providers have perseverance, even when people say there is little effect to help someone with just a few resources, this will not dissuade them, but they will persist to satisfy the hunger of someone experiencing it both physical and spiritual.  Elisha said forcefully two times, “Give it to the people to eat.”  He was not going to give up too easily on them. The Lord persists in the same way, He already knew what he was going to do, but He wanted to test the faith of the disciples, which was lacking. Good providers are not fearful if they give what little they have, it will leave them with nothing.   There will be leftovers because God multiplies.  Phillip remains doubtful about what can be done, while Andrew comes up with a partial solution.  Andrew sees a little boy, with little resources. But also asks, “What good are these for many?”  It is interesting the little boy does not speak at all.  He did not say anything when the little fish and bread were taken away. He did not complain. Perhaps he knew God would multiply from what he had.  Some who have just enough to eat may become fearful they will be left with nothing but time and time again it shows God will provide much more.  There is an expression in Spanish that says, “We can always add more water to the beans.”  And another one that says, “Where two eat, three can eat as well.” It just shows a willingness to give from the little, for God multiplies. God will increase to good providers. 2 Corinthians 8:15 says, “As it is written: ‘Whoever had much did not have more, and whoever had little did not have less.”  Good providers are not afraid to give, for God will take care of their needs, they will have just enough. And in another part of 2 Corinthians 9:6 it also states, “Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Let’s not leave people on their own, but rather become cheerful providers of God’s generosity, for only Him satisfies the hungry soul