In the midst of dusty haze and smoldering spring sun in East Africa, our Notre Dame entourage of faculty and students celebrated a feast with the people of Kkindu, a remote village in Uganda.

As all gathered in the village center, our humble offering of a bull was joined by offerings from each family: cassava (mashed bananas), fried crickets, sugar cane, rice, beans. While the calf roasted, we became part of the community. Mass was celebrated, children danced and sang, athletes preformed acrobatic moves, women passed woven arts. An entire village was fed in sustenance and in spirit as everyone in the community brought something to the table.

Today’s Gospel miracle takes place on a remote mountainside. Thousands are attracted to Jesus—and Jesus makes great things happen: mute people find words, crippled people walk, blind people receive sight. The crowd lingers as their souls are fed through Christ’s miracles and teaching. Jesus realizes the people’s stomachs must be fed as well. Far from any marketplace with only five loaves of bread, two fish, and thousands to feed, the disciples wonder how Jesus will respond.

Jesus’ unspoken response: “You will.”

Jesus blesses the available food and then commissions the disciples to distribute it. His action establishes the pattern for Christian service. As the food is shared, it multiplies. In the inspiration of Christ, it is the people who feed each other—the community joins Jesus in the miracle-working. As Christ shares with us, we are called to share with others, and, in the end, an over-abundance is produced.

In this season of Advent, how will we feed those around us? Following the inspiration of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for us, how can we sacrifice for our community?

In the remote Ugandan village, our group provided the meat for the feast while the entire community provided the soul of the event. In the end, all hearts were overflowing.

Kristin Komyatte Sheehan ’90, ’93MA
Program Director
Play Like A Champion Today® Sport Educational Series
Institute for Educational Initiatives

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