After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?" Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world."
When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
The feeding of four or five thousand people is recorded in all four of the Gospels. Each of the four Gospels have their own character of describing the events and words of Jesus. Yet there are some events such as the feeding of thousands of people that are written about in all of the Gospels. Perhaps it is for emphasis that the narratives are rewritten. Another reason may be that the more a story is written the more credibility it would have. What ever the reason for a story being repeated all four times, I do think one of the intentions is to help us know that God is concerned about every human person as much as God is concerned about the whole of every human person.
Human beings are made up of a mind, body, and spirit. Each part of a human person's being needs each faculty to help out the other, yet each part has it's own function. See 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12: 1-8 for reference. All that is good and holy about humankind was created and given life by God and is sustained to this day by the Holy Spirit. Try as we might, we are not totally self sufficient without some kind of help to fulfill the tasks that are before us.
In these very difficult and troubling economic times keeping the hungry and destitute fed, clothed and housed is challenging. Our economy is still suffering from the fall out of the big banks and so many other parts things that have happened. In spite of efforts to elect Democratic leaders in the White House, House of Representatives and Senate many continue to face the frightening possibility of homelessness with very little help. We got a health care bill passed, but there will still be many people without health care. With Republicans determined to take Congress the fears of so many are rising as we fear loosing any of the ground that we have gained. Racism is louder over this past year since the Tea Party has been organizing. The debate about immigration reform has been leaning towards out right discrimination and racism thanks to Arizona's "Papers Please" law. The work towards full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning and queer individuals, communities and families continues to struggle towards a fair resolution for sexual and gender minorities. Over the past few weeks the discussion about the relationship with Islam has become even more difficult as the Christian right and many Republicans are trying to keep a Muslim Mosque from being built a few blocks from ground zero. There is a deep hunger for inclusion, stability, community and resolution in society and the Church. The solutions to many of these and other issues so dear to so many of us are not solved over night. We need help to keep working, struggling, debating and hoping.
"One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God" (Mt. 4:4). Our souls and minds need to be fed by God, as do our bodies. God's way of feeding us is by using simple items that we can relate to, and through them God does wonderful and extraordinary things. Through simple bread and wine, God feeds us with God's Goodness and Grace, by the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
Hymn 322 in the Hymnal 1982 reads: "When Jesus died to save us, a word, and act he gave us; and still that word is spoken and still the bread is broken. He was the Word that spake it, he took the bread and brake it, and what the Word did make it, I do believe and take it."
The feeding of the thousands is a reminder that God desires to feed all of us with the physical and spiritual graces we need to be who we are the Body of Christ. God has not left us alone to face the darkness of our lives as if God does not care. God desires to stay close to us, and so God does through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The reception of the Sacrament is to not only convey that God is close to us, but that through us God is close to all the world through Christ's Body the Church. That presence of God is to flow through all the members of the Church, not just those who are white, straight, Christian, speak and write English, male, healthy, wealthy, unchallenged etc. God's presence, holiness and wholeness makes God presence all the more graceful when all people are welcomed and able to participate in the reception of Holy Communion. God does not ask that any of us be fitted in to a status quo to come and be fed by Christ's Presence in Holy Communion. Another great hymn sings the words:
"Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me, and that thou bidd'st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt; fightings and fears without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thou wilt receive; wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse relieve, because thy promise I believe O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thy love unknown has broken every barrier down; now to be thine, yea, thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come." (Hymn 693, Hymnal 1982).
Lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual, transgendered, questioning and queer people have every business, right and reason to be at and celebrate God's holy love and grace at the Holy Eucharist. All are truly welcome there. God wants to feed us and send us as Christ's Body. We are fed to be nourished, but also to help nourish and heal a broken, hungry and waiting world.
Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of this redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 15, Book of Common Prayer, Page 232).
God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Mission, Book of Common Prayer, Page 100).
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