Eighth Sunday after Pentecost: Jesus said: You give them Something to Eat

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 55:1-5 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord:

"Ho, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and you that have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

Incline your ear, and come to me;

listen, so that you may live.

I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.

See, I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander for the peoples.

See, you shall call nations that you do not know,

and nations that do not know you shall run to you,

because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you."

Psalm 145 (BCP., p.801)


Romans 9:1-5 (NRSV)

I am speaking the truth in Christ-- I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit-- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

Matthew 14:13-21 (NRSV)

Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. 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; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Blog Reflection

A few of my readers are going to think I have flipped my lid when I share with you an experience I had over the past two weeks.  

A dear friend of mine who is a new Episcopalian began a group on Facebook called Progressive Christian Mysticism.   I joined the group with much enthusiasm, and I do applaud his efforts.   As time went on, the owner of the group put up regular posts by Marcus Borg and other progressive Christian authors, along side works by Thomas Merton.   I also saw a post entitled "Are you one" that had a list of the things that the particular progressive Christian man holds.  I deeply honor the faith of the individual and believe his intentions and purpose is good.   At the same time, I began to have a bit of an issue within my own heart.

I continue to be a progressive when it comes to politics.   I can also be labeled a more progressive theologian in some ways.   Yet, there is another side of me that remains very conservative when it comes to things like what is written in the Apostles and Nicene Creed are things I do truly believe.   I make no bones about being very Anglo-Catholic when it comes to worship, spirituality and the like.   At the same time, I do and have embraced Universalism in that I believe whether one is a Christian or not, there is still hope for salvation.  

When it comes to basic Christian spirituality in terms of contemplation, mysticism and prayer,  I believe whole heartedly they are neither political, nor are they based on one's theological opinions, arguments or school of thought.   When it comes to the movement of the Holy Spirit within our hearts and how we respond to the Spirit's gentle nudging, all that is important is being open to hearing what She has to say.

I think the message of today's Gospel reading is that what mattered most to Jesus in the feeding of the five thousand, is that they were hungry.   They were physically hungry and spiritually hungry.  They heard about this man who had been preaching the news of God's reign, healing the sick and casting out evil spirits.  They wanted to see this man, but they also needed Him to give nourishment to their bodies and souls.  They wanted to know if God was truly listening to the hunger in their stomachs and hearts, and they wanted a reason to respond.  

Jesus' response was not to ask them about their theological or political opinions.   Jesus was not concerned about whether they were illegal immigrants, or baptized or if they had gone to seminary and passed the General Ordination Exams.  Jesus fed them with the Goodness of God.  And I do believe if there had been a person who had a gluten allergy, or if the fish had mercury, or there was someone who was a vegan, the Goodness Jesus fed them with would have met them where they were, and healed them in body and soul.   I also believe that their hearts would have been changed, because everyone was welcome to eat, and receive God's blessing through Christ.

I think the message for Christians, is to see beyond what people think, or how they exercise their responsibilities as citizens, to show reverence and respect for the presence of Christ in all people.  This is a hard teaching for me to live by, as I am sure my many of readers find it difficult.   But, through the daily attentiveness to the Word of God who is Jesus the Christ in our hearts through the Holy Spirit; in that place where it matters not whether one is a democrat or a republican, a progressive or a conservative; God draws each of us closer to God's Self and one another.  The labels that are used to divide and permit prejudice and justify a first class and a second class of citizens are human made.   They may be necessary for us to know so that we learn to respect one another in some way, shape or form.  However, as far as God is concerned, with in each of us, is there room for the Goodness of the Lord to come, speak, heal and call?   Are we willing to "incline the ears of our hearts" enough to notice how much we each hunger for God's Word, with a need to respond in a way that brings healing and reconciliation us and the world around us?  As far as God's Word is concerned, the only label God is concerned about, is that we are Beloved of God, and with us, God is well-pleased.

Jesus said: "You give them something to eat."   We can only give from that which we have received.  If we are open to God's Word in our hearts, we will be able to give of, and share from that Word with in us, to others who are abandoned, war torn, and experiencing violence    We will respond to issues such as the second class citizenship of women, LGBT, African Americans, Native Americans, Muslims, Jewish people, Atheists and more, not because it is politically correct; but, because we are God's people giving reverence and respect to all of God's holy people.  We will feed them with what we have, because we have so graciously received with thankful hearts and open hands.    And the People of God will together say with one voice, one response:

Amen.


Prayers

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your
Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without
your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 232).

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 260).