Sermon 07-31-2011

Genesis 32:22-31                                                                    Matthew 14:13-21

“Struggle and Blessing” (The feeding of the 5,000)

PRAYER

“Maybe it was the size of the crowd on hand to see; maybe it was the “wow” factor; maybe it was the importance of the event for the ministry of Jesus. Whatever it was, none of the gospel writer missed it. This is the only miracle of Jesus included in all of the four gospels.”                                                                                              (Dock Hollingsworth, “Feasting on the Word.” Year A, vol. 3, pg.309)

        “The account of the feeding of the five thousand… has been an inspiration to Christians in many diverse situations. It occurs immediately after Jesus and his disciples learn of the brutal murder of John the Baptist and after a long day with large and desperate crowds. The disciples understandably were seeking to get away. They were grief stricken.”

                                    (Clifton Kirkpatrick, “Feasting on the Word.” Year A, vol. 3, pg.308)

        “When it was evening, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “this is a deserted place,  (no Mc Donald’s or Burger King’s around here) and the hour is now late send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Mt. 14:15

        “We read, however, that Jesus had compassion, and he invited the multitudes to eat. The disciples were shocked, for they could locate only two fish and five loaves, hardly enough to feed themselves, much less a crowd of thousands. Nevertheless, Jesus instructed them to feed the crowd…” C K                        “Notice that there is no sermon in this story, nor is there a parable in words; this is a story filled with activity… Jesus saw; he had compassion; he ordered; he took; he looked; blessed, broke, and gave.” Sounds familiar?                                                                                                                       (Dock Hollingsworth, idem, pg.309)

        “…not only did they get enough to eat, but there were also twelve baskets left over. The disciples were in for a surprise that evening…! once again they witness the miraculous power of God’s love.

        This was a miracle story, one of great importance to the early church. (Some interpreters believe) that it was read regularly when the early Christians gathered at the Eucharist, the communion table. Others suggest that it shows a parallel to God’s provision of manna from heaven for the children of Israel. More important than any of these reasons, this account of the feeding of the five thousand was treasured by the early church because it taught Christians the very heart of the gospel message and was a deep source of hope and inspiration for Christians who were seeking to be faithful against great odds.

        In so many parts of the world we see the resurrection power of the story of the loaves and fishes coming alive in our midst today. It is a story of great power because it demonstrates that God is love, teaches what it means to follow Christ, and assures us of God’s power for the good in the world.

        First and foremost, this story teaches us that God is love. The key reality is that Jesus had compassion. In spite of incredible pressures to the contrary, compassion for people was his prime motivation. It is not compassion in the abstract. It is compassion that cares deeply about the most basic needs of all of us. In this event, it was the concern that there be food for the hungry… God, who is the ultimate power of the universe, intends peace in the world, an end to hunger, the well-being of families, and spiritual wholeness for all people, (so he provided).

        The second lesson we learn from this account is about the disciples – About the awesome responsibility that God has entrusted to us. Jesus did not feed five thousand. He told the disciples to do it. God has entrusted us to be the body of Christ – the hands and feet through which God’s work is done in the world. God does not work alone, but through people, you and me. To follow is to express our faith in concrete acts of love, justice, and compassion towards others. It is no accident that Matthew tells us that we will meet Jesus in reaching out to the “least” of our brothers and sisters – the hungry, the thirsty, the imprisoned.

        Third, this gospel story reminds us that when we need it most, God will give us the power to work for good in the world, a reality many of us have discovered

When faced with situations we were not sure we could manage. When Jesus told the disciples to feed the five thousand, the disciples thought it was impossible. The needs were so great, and the resources were so few. Have we not felt the same?

(few resources, great need!) However, when the disciples worked together and followed Jesus, they had more than enough. (Hum… What does it say to us?)

        This is not the only time that the disciples have discovered the power of the Holy Spirit to do great things when Christians join together in unity and faithfulness to God’s good purposes for the world.

        The promise of the story of the feeding of the five thousand is that if we join together in unity and faithfulness, God will be with us. It is not a promise of the absence of struggle and pain… but a promise that God will be with us and that God’s intention for love, peace, and justice in the world will ultimately prevail.

        The story of the feeding of the five thousand is very familiar to most Christians, but its message is always new:

        God loves and cares for every person on earth and that the promise of “life in fullness” extends to every creature and to the creation itself.

        God calls us to be disciples – to be the means through which God’s work is done in our world today.

        God promises us in the Holy Spirit that the power of the love of God can break through even in the most unlikely places when we join together as faithful disciples seeking God’s good intentions for the world.”(Clifton Kirkpatrick, idem, pg.310)

        In Genesis we read the promises of God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. “It is no accident that Jacob’s name means ‘he who supplants,’ or provides). We remember that Jacob struggled with this brother Esau from before their birth in the womb of their mother Rebekah. Jacob, who was born a few seconds later than his brother Esau and who wanted to be the elder heir of his father Isaac, would obtain Esau’s birthright (by exchanging it for a plate of lentil soup). Jacob later deceived their father so as to get his final blessing, which rightfully belonged to Esau. As a result Esau planned to kill Jacob, prompting Jacob to flee to Haran, where he remained for twenty years. Genesis 32 narrates the story of Jacob’s reconciliation with Esau… it also narrates the account of Jacob’s face to face encounter with God. An anxious and contrite Jacob prayed for protection from the God who had shown steadfast love and faithfulness. Jacob received the blessing of God after wrestling all night with the nocturnal visitor. He found that God is one who hears in the time of need.”        (Nan Duerling, “The Word and You,” vol.2, p.227-228)

        “The events that took place on that hillside in Galilee two thousand years ago was a miracle for the people gathered that day…”        (Clifton Kirkpatrick, idem.) 

        We find Jesus trusting God who hears in the time of need. And Jesus prayed and God blessed the struggling hungry and tired people, who also had a face to face encounter with God, through Jesus’ miracle in the breaking of the bread.  They were physically fed and spiritually blessed. Amen!

BENEDICTION

Genuine encounter with God draws us together into community with one another.

Gathered, we find the gift of going forth and living as a community restored and restoring. For when we truly see one another, we catch a glimpse of God.