April 17, 2026 // Friday of the Second Week of Easter
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: John 6:1-15
Reflect on the Word //
I looked at my husband and nodded my head in agreement, despite my fear and apprehension. We had decided to pull our son out of the Catholic high school he was attending. He was having some mental health issues and homeschooling was a better option as he continued to get the care he needed. However, the daunting task of having three sons in three different schools and juggling all the activities and needs of each, along with the demands of homeschooling, seemed like more than I could handle. I knew God would have to provide me with the means to get it all done.
In the Gospel of John, the Apostles were in a situation in which they were unable to solve a problem on their own. When Jesus saw a large crowd approaching, He asked Philip how they would feed the people (see John 6:5). The disciples knew that they didn’t have enough money to buy that much food and that the small amount of loaves and fishes available wouldn’t be enough to feed everyone. I can imagine the Apostles looking expectantly at Jesus, waiting for Him to explain how He’d solve the problem. Instead Jesus simply told them to have the people recline. Did the disciples look at each other and silently wonder: And then what? There must have been uncertainty as to how their impossible situation would be resolved.
However, Jesus was not uncertain. He knew exactly what He was going to do. He blessed the meager loaves and fishes, and as they passed the food around, it multiplied to amounts even greater than they needed.
Jesus challenged the Apostles to remain faithful and follow His instructions, despite not knowing how the problem would be solved. We’ve all experienced times when we didn’t know the answer or felt completely unqualified to accomplish something. Our challenge is to discern and then take the next best step, trusting that God will lead and provide where we are lacking. Like the loaves, He takes what little we have and accomplishes marvelous deeds.
Relate to the Lord // Where do you need to lean into the Lord’s leadership and provision? Identify your place of need and ask Him what’s next.
Bobbi Rol is a wife and mama living on the Monterey Bay in California with her husband, daughter (also a Blessed Is She writer), and three teen boys. When she is not driving her kids to school, practices, and games, she can be found by the ocean, catching a movie, or collecting journals and stationery. She was a contributing author to Gift: Study on the Eucharist, And Hay Became Holy, and our children’s devotional prayer book, Rise Up. Find out more about her at https://www.instagram.com/
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