AN ABUNDANT FEAST

AUGUST 3, 2008

CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ALAN N. HARDER, CLP

FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKENDS, I’VE HAD REUNIONS TO ATTEND.  THE FIRST, TWO WEEKENDS AGO, WAS WITH MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS ALONG WITH THE SAME CLASS YEAR FROM TWO OTHER EVANSVILLE HIGH SCHOOLS.  IT WAS LOTS OF FUN—MOSTLY BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO MEET VERY GOOD FRIENDS, CATCH UP ON THEIR LIVES, SWAP LOTS OF OLD STORIES AND TO MARVEL AT SOME OF THE MANY REASONS WHY NONE OF US SHOULD HAVE SURVIVED ADOLESCENCE.   

THE REUNION LAST SATURDAY WAS WITH MARSHA’S FAMILY.  IT WAS THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW AFTER A LONG HIATUS FROM FAMILY REUNIONS.  IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TOO.  MARSHA HAD 12 1^ST COUSINS JUST ON HER FATHER’S SIDE OF THE FAMILY, AND THERE ARE NOW 26 2^ND COUSINS AND 30 3^RD COUSINS.  THERE WAS LOTS OF NOISE, LOTS OF FOOD AND, AGAIN, LOTS OF STORIES.  THE FAMILY IS BIG ENOUGH THAT I HAVEN’T HEARD ALL THE STORIES YET.  THIS TIME I HEARD ABOUT MIKE AND MAX AS BOYS PLAYING CATCH WITH A WATER BALLOON.  VERY CAREFULLY.  BACKING UP A STEP EACH TIME THEY TOSSED IT.  THEY WERE COMING CLOSE TO THE LIMIT WHEN UNCLE ROBERT DROVE UP.  MIKE AND MAX LIVED IN TUNNELTON, RIGHT BETWEEN BUDDHA AND BONO.  UNCLE ROBERT HAD MOVED ON UP TO INDIANAPOLIS BUT CAME BACK TO VISIT PRETTY OFTEN. IN A SUIT AND TIE, UNCLE ROBERT STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR AND TOLD MIKE TO THROW IT TO HIM.  MIKE HESITATED, ASKED IF UNCLE ROBERT WAS SURE, AND THEN TOSSED HIM THE WATER BALLOON.  UNCLE ROBERT HADN’T REALIZED IT WAS A WATER BALLOON UNTIL JUST AFTER HE PUNCHED  IT LIKE A VOLLEYBALL SERVE. HE WAS SURPRISED.

NARRATIVE STORIES ADD TO OUR UNDERSTANDING BEYOND THE STORY LINE, DON’T THEY?  THEY REVEAL SOMETHING OF THE CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE IN THE STORIES.  UNCLE ROBERT IS NO LONGER AROUND TO DEFEND HIMSELF, SO I WON’T COMMENT ON WHAT HIS REACTION REVEALED, EXCEPT TO SAY THAT EVERYONE NODDED AND AGREED ‘THAT SOUNDS JUST LIKE UNCLE ROBERT’

AND OUR MIRACLE STORY IN MATTHEW REVEALS SOMETHING ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE STORY TOO, DOESN’ T IT?  AND PERHAPS,  IF WE PRESS HARD ENOUGH, ABOUT MATTHEW AND HIS READERS AS WELL.

THIS STORY, THE FEEDING OF THE MULTITUDES, IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE MIRACLES THAT IS REPEATED IS ALL 4 GOSPELS.  THERE ARE VARIATIONS, BUT ALL 4 GOSPELS REPEAT THE SAME SCENE.  IN MARK, LUKE AND JOHN, THE FISHES ARE DIVIDED ALONG WITH THE LOAVES, AND THE DISCIPLES ARGUE A LITTLE WHEN TOLD TO FEED THE PEOPLE.  IN LUKE, THERE’S NO MENTION OF A BOAT TRIP TO ESCAPE THE CROWD. IN JOHN, JESUS FIRST RAISES THE CONCERN ABOUT HOW TO FEED THE CROWD, NOT THE DISCIPLES, AND A BOY OFFERS THE LOAVES AND FISH, NOT THE DISCIPLES, AND AT THE END OF THE STORY, THE CROWD IS PUSHING TO MAKE JESUS KING. BUT IN MATTHEW, WE FIND THE DISCIPLES A LITTLE LESS BLUNDERING THAN IN THE OTHER 3 GOSPELS.

 “YOU FEED THEM.”  

“IT’S TIME TO SEND THESE FOLKS OUT TO BUY SOMETHING TO EAT” THE DISCIPLES SAID.  “THEY NEED NOT GO AWAY” ANSWERS JESUS, “YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT.”

THE DISCIPLES FELT INADEQUATE.  THEY FELT ILL-PREPARED. 

JESUS FELT COMPASSION.

“YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT.”

THEY WERE PRETTY SURE 5 LOAVES AND TWO FISH WOULDN’T STRETCH VERY FAR.  WE’D HAVE TO AGREE!  IF WE HAD SHOWN UP AT THE REUNION WITH TWO HOT DOGS AND 5 BUNS INSTEAD OF 50 HAMBURGERS AND 60 HOT DOGS, WE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN NEARLY AS WELL-RECEIVED, I DON’T THINK.  CAN’T FAULT THE DISCIPLES FOR NOT PLANNING ON AN UNPRECEDENTED MIRACLE.

“YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT.”

CHRIST CALLS THE DISCIPLES TO ACTION, AND ALTHOUGH THEY FEEL INADEQUATE AND ILL-PREPARED, THEY RESPOND IN FAITH, AND CHRIST SUPPLIES WHAT IS NEEDED.  ABUNDANTLY. 

WHEN I LEARNED TO RIDE A BICYCLE, MY FATHER EXPLAINED THAT FORWARD MOTION WOULD HELP ME BALANCE.  I WAS WILLING TO TAKE HIS WORD FOR IT, BUT WHEN THE BIKE WOBBLED MY FEET WANTED TO PLANT THEMSELVES ON THE GROUND, NOT PUMP THE PEDALS!  I FELT INADEQUATE AND ILL-PREPARED. 

WHEN I FIRST WENT ON SESSION IN 1985, THE THEME OF THE NATIONAL CHURCH WAS EVANGELISM.  WE HAD A TYPICALLY PRESBYTERIAN DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT EVANGELISM MEANT AND SOMEWHERE DURING THAT DISCUSSION, I PROCLAIMED THAT MY FAITH WAS INTENSLY PERSONAL, AND THAT WITNESSING TO IT WOULD VIOLATE SOMETHING I WANTED TO HOLD PRIVATELY. 

TRUTH IS, I FELT INADEQUATE.  I FELT ILL-PREPARED.

THAT SAME WEEK, A PBS SPECIAL AIRED ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.  I WATCHED THE PORTRAYALS OF THOSE EARLY CHRISTIANS’ WITNESS TO THEIR FAITH.  I STILL FELT INADEQUATE AND ILL PREPARED, BUT I REALIZED I WAS ALSO A WIMP.

YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT.

IT’S NOT HARD TO FIND OURSELVES IN SITUATIONS WHERE WE ARE CALLED UPON TO EITHER COMPROMISE OUR FAITH OR WITNESS TO IT.  IT SEEMS, SITTING HERE IN CHURCH, LIKE SUCH A NO-BRAINER!  OF COURSE WE WITNESS TO OUR FAITH!  OF COURSE WE TAKE THE HIGH PATH.  BUT WHEN THE TIME COMES, WE CAN FEEL INADEQUATE AND ILL-PREPARED.   WHEN WE ARE INCENSED BY AN EMAIL FORWARD THAT PROCLAIMS “THIS IS TRUE” WE WANT TO RALLY EVERYONE ON OUR ADDRESS LIST TO THE CAUSE, EVEN IF IN REALITY WE ARE BEARING FALSE WITNESS.  WHEN A FRIEND IN CRISIS WANTS TO KNOW HOW GOD COULD CARE WHEN THEIR COLLAPSING WORLD ARGUES THAT GOD DOES NOT, WE WANT TO RUN.  WHEN PRESSED TO EXPLAIN OUR THEOLOGY, WE WANT TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT.  WHEN WE HEAR A FRIEND MOUTH AN ETHNIC SLUR, WE BITE OUR TOUNGUES AND DUCK.  WHEN PRAYER MIGHT HEAL, WE LOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO PRAY IT, FEELING INADEQUATE.  ILL-PREPARED.

BUT JESUS SAYS, “YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT. “ AND THAT LESSON DOESN’T SEEM LIMITED TO FOOD. 

OUR GOSPEL LESSON LOOKS BOTH FORWARD AND BACKWARD.  IT LOOKS FORWARD TO THE LAST SUPPER.  THE PASSOVER MEAL LATER ECHOS THE ACTIONS OF THIS MIRACLE: THE EUCHARISTIC MEAL SHARES THE FOUR LITURGICAL ACTIONS THAT WE STILL CELEBRATE:  TAKING BREAD, BLESSING BREAD, BREAKING BREAD AND GIVING BREAD.[1]  IT LOOKS FORWARD TO PENTECOST WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT ENTERS THE DISCIPLES AND THEY TAKE ON THE CHARGE:  “YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT.”  IT ANTICIPATES THE CRUCIFIXION, AND THE TRANSFER OF JESUS MINISTRY TO HIS FOLLOWERS.  TO US.

 IT HAS SEVERAL ECHOES OF THE PAST IN IT AS WELL.    WHEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE WANDERING IN THE DESERT, HUNGRY, GOD PROVIDED THEIR NOURISHMENT.WITH MANNA.  THE PROPHET ELIJAH, DURING THE DROUGHT, WAS FED BY THE WIDOW’S SMALL JAR OF MEAL AND FEW DROPS OF OIL, ABUNDANTLY, BY THE WORD OF GOD.[2]  AFTER ELIJAH WAS TAKEN UP IN A WHIRLWIND TO HEAVEN, ELISHA RETURNED TO GILGAL IN THE MIDST OF A FAMINE.  HE FED 100 WITH LOAVES OF BARLEY AND EARS OF GRAIN THAT HIS SERVANT WAS SURE WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATE.  BUT ELISHA SAID ““Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the LORD, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’ ”  [3] IT WAS AFTER THE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST THAT JESUS PERFORMED THIS MIRACULOUS FEEDING. THE MULTITUDES ATE, AND HAD SOME LEFT.

IT IS GOOD, I THINK, TO RECOGNIZE OUR INADEQUACIES.  I CERTAINLY COULD NOT, OF MY OWN RESOURCES, FEED 5000.  WE COULD NOT WITH OUR CURRENT PANTRY, FEED EVEN ELISHA’S 100.   I CANNOT, BY MYSELF, RESTORE FLOOD VICTIMS TO THEIR HOMES.  I CANNOT, BY MYSELF, BRING COMFORT AND HEALING TO FRIENDS IN CRISIS.  I CANNOT COMPREHEND THE ENTIRITY OF GOD’S WISDOM.  AND ALTHOUGH I AM NO LONGER RELUCTANT TO TALK ABOUT MY LIMITED UNDERSTANDING, I CANNOT EXPLAIN OR EVEN UNDERSTAND THE FINAL MYSTERIES THAT REMAIN SURROUNDING THE POWER OF FAITH OR OF GRACE.    BUT GOD CAN.  AND THAT’S ALL I NEED TO KNOW.

IT IS GOOD TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN SPITE OF OUR INADEQUACIES, WE ARE PROVIDED FOR ABUNDANTLY.  IT IS GOOD TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD’S PROVIDENCE COMES THROUGH THE MIRACLE OF OUR PRESENCE AND CARE.  IT IS GOOD TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD’S ABUNDANT LOVE AND HIS DESIRE THAT THE HUNGRY ARE FED, AND THE HOMELESS RESTORED AND THE GRIEVING COMFORTED COMES BY HIS POWER THROUGH OUR ACTS.  IT IS GOOD TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN SPITE OF OUR INADEQUACIES AND ILL-PREPAREDNESS, GOD ACTS IN WAYS THAT TRANSFORM OUR MEAGERNESS TO HIS GLORY. 

GOD’S SPIRIT IS AT WORK THROUGH MANY DENOMINATIONS COMING TO UNITE IN TERRE HAUTE MINISTRIES WHO EMBRACE THAT WHAT TRUTH THERE IS, IS GOD’S TRUTH, AND THAT WE ARE CALLED TO COMMON MINISTRY IN SPITE OF DENOMINATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN UNDERSTANDING THAT TRUTH. 

GOD’S SPIRIT IS AT WORK IN THE OUTREACH NOT ONLY OF OUR DEACONS, BUT OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS AS WE ENCOUAGE ONE ANOTHER THROUGH CRISES.  IT IS AT WORK AS WE LIFT IN PRAYER THOSE NAMED IN OUR PRAYER LIST, AND THOSE WE KNOW ARE IN NEED.

YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT. 

THIS MORNING WE SHARE IN AN ABUNDANT FEAST.

THIS AFTERNOON, AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW, WE NEED TO PASS IT ON.

AMEN AND AMEN

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