The Rev. Arianne R. Weeks
Taking
the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke
the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the
crowds. And all ate and were filled. Matthew 14:20
Given the
incredible miracle we hear this morning, let’s spend some time talking about
miracles. It’s a word we hear and use
often but there is a distinction between the more common use of the word and
the very specific function and intention of the word used in scripture.
Generally
speaking, a miracle is an event, or occurrence that is unexpected that is for
the good. “It’s a miracle he caught that
Hail Mary pass at the end of the game.”
Or, “it’s a miracle I made it on time given the traffic on the beltway.”
And of course we
also use the word when events of a much greater magnitude surprise us. After the car accident – it’s a miracle I
walked away. After the diagnosis – it’s
a miracle he’s still alive.
In everyday
vernacular we focus on the good outcome for an individual or group. And some people assign agency to it – like
God – but some people don’t. A miracle
is just one part of an interconnected universe, a coincidence to be grateful
for.
But in the
gospels, miracles are about more than the outcome. We hear Jesus often say, “the kingdom of
heaven is like this – or – the kingdom of heaven in like that.” But when a miracle happens – that is God
breaking into our world through Jesus or someone else to make “thy kingdom
come, now!” And it is never in
secret. It isn’t about just one person’s
good fortune, but all those who see the miracle and think, “what does this mean
for me?”
Lazarus is
unbound and brought to new life and all who see (and hear) realize, “Ah! That is kingdom living!”
The bleeding
woman touches the fringe of Christ’s cloak and is healed and all who see
realize, “No one is meant to be an outcast.
God desires health and inclusion for all!”
Water is turned
into wine and all who witness the miracle are reminded, this is God’s son.
In John’s gospel
miracles are always called, signs.
Because they orient our eyes and ears to the source, God. So that we might ask why this miracle? What does it tell me about God? What does it tell me about God’s relationship
to me and humanity? How does it help me
in my discipleship?
So, all that
miracle preamble because today we read the one and only miracle that occurs in
not 1, not 2, not 3 but all four gospels!
That is significant and amazing.
The birth – the birth of Jesus even – not the same in all four gospels,
doesn’t even exist in two. This
miraculous story of something so simple – just a stressful situation that leads
to people being fed – was critical enough to make the cut in all four. Clearly, then, this miracle points to
something very important about God that we are supposed to pay attention
to.
So, what matters
about this miracle? What does it teach
us about God? What does it teach us
about discipleship? While you could mine
this miracle for many teachings, let’s focus on four.
5,000 men PLUS
women and children. In Mark it’s 4,000
but does the specific number matter? I
don’t think so – I think we’re supposed to see it is a WHOLE LOT OF
PEOPLE. A crowd, nameless and
anonymous.
And we learn
that God has great compassion for the anonymous crowds in our world. There are many of them today – the poor, the
undocumented, the ones in the city and the county. Do we have compassion for the anonymous
crowds in our world? Or, like the
disciples, do we want them to fix their own problems and go away?
Second point, Jesus
wasn’t having a great day on this morning.
Our excerpt begins – Jesus withdrew in a boat – making it sound like
he’s just doing his morning prayer. But
in the chapter it says, “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from
there in a boat by himself.” When Jesus
heard what? Jesus has just learned that
his cousin, his friend, John the Baptist had been killed by King Herod. But when the crowds (and we can include
disciples) hear this same thing they follow Jesus.
Jesus is
grieving over death. The crowds and
disciples maybe are grieving – but I bet they are also scared and anxious. John the Baptist who we followed, who
baptized us has been killed? What does this mean for our safety? Jesus will know, he’ll fix it, he’ll take
charge.
Does Jesus get
upset or frustrated or angry – that his disciples and this crowd have
interrupted his grief with their anxiety and issues? Nope.
Jesus has compassion and right away, tends to some of their needs by
curing the sick.
There is
something miraculous in that, yes? When
we have the ability to stay calm, collected and compassionate in the face of
another’s anxiety, fear, even grief.
That composure believe it or not can actually make a way for healing.
Number three.
The disciples, they make a fair point don’t they? It’s late, there are A LOT of people around,
there are no Royal Farms in the area, it’s deserted. So ok, we’ve done enough. Jesus, it’s time to call it a day with our
duties. Tell them to go and get their
own dinner.
Not necessary,
says Jesus. You, disciples, have the
ability to feed them here and now, bring me what you have. And one imagines with that same calm,
collected and compassionate presence Jesus takes the gifts they bring, blesses
them, breaks them and asks the disciples to share them.
Take, bless,
break, share – this is what we practice together every week! So I take an important point in Jesus
teaching his disciples – they can’t just sit back and watch him do
everything. Their gifts, their actions,
their doing is a part of the plan. “They
need not go away; you give them something to eat.” Jesus says.
A lesson and in invitation to discipleship, there.
Finally what is
perhaps the most obvious, God wants the world to be fed. God wants us with the resources we have – an
abundance that can sustain all of creation – to feed and care for the
hungry. Pretty simple I guess – but give
us this day, our daily bread – is still a prayer for actual bread for millions
of children and adults in our world.
So, as I said, you
could spend a year, a lifetime, I truly believe praying and reflecting on this
incredible revelation about God in Christ.
And then you could apply what you glean – apply how the Spirit inspires
your heart and mind to your and our life now.
We all know the headlines in the news right now. You all know the situations of scarcity, or
fear, or anxiety in your own life.
God has
compassion for the nameless and hungry crowds – how does that apply?
Jesus has a calm
and collected presence in the midst of a group charged with sickness and stress
– how does that apply?
God takes,
blesses, breaks and asks us to share the gifts we have – how does that apply?
God wants men,
women and children to be fed – how does that apply?
And with the
questions and the challenges also comes our good news. God looks on us with compassion – we are part
of the crowd of humanity. God offers us
Christ’s calm and collected presence anytime we need it in the midst of our
grief, fear or stress. God takes,
blesses, breaks open and shares Christ’s life so that we might know eternal
life now and forever. God wants our
hunger – literally and spiritually – to be fed.
The challenges
of this miracle and the good news of this miracle apply to us. And there can be more miracles in the world
as more and more disciples participate in the miraculous. Amen.
Proper 13, Year A
The Rev. Arianne R. Weeks
8/3/14
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