1 Scripture Reading Today's scripture reading comes from the book of Mark, chapter six. It's the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, which is the only miracle of Jesus, besides the resurrection, that is recorded in all four gospels, and which many of you have probably heard countless times before. Because of that, I'll read it from a different translation than usual, the Common English Bible, so listen now, for something new in this reading. The apostles returned to Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. Many people were coming and going, so there was no time to eat. He said to the apostles, "Come by yourselves to a secluded place and rest for a while." They departed in a boat by themselves for a deserted place. Many people saw them leaving and recognized them, so they ran ahead from all the cities and arrived before them. When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.
2 Late in the day, his disciples came to him and said, "This is an isolated place, and it s already late in the day. Send them away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something to eat for themselves." He replied, "You give them something to eat." But they said to him, "Should we go off and buy bread worth almost eight months pay and give it to them to eat?" He said to them, "How much bread do you have? Take a look." After checking, they said, "Five loaves of bread and two fish." He directed the disciples to seat all the people in groups as though they were having a banquet on the green grass. They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. He took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke the loaves into pieces, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them
3 all. Everyone ate until they were full. They filled twelve baskets with the leftover pieces of bread and fish. About five thousand had eaten. Mark 6:30 44 CEB http://bible.us/37/mrk.6.30 44.ceb Please pray with me: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be pleasing to you, God, our creator and redeemer. Amen.
4 Sermon They had all followed him to a deserted place. Having heard rumors and theories about this man who just might be the Messiah they've been waiting for, these thousands and thousands of people followed Jesus to this lonely place to hear him speak. They spent the whole day listening to his teachings, some sounding familiar to previous teachings they've heard, some totally foreign to them, and lots in between, tickling just a small part of their minds and forming a seed of truth in their hearts. Even so, by the end of the day, they were tired. They didn t have time to eat, and sitting still and listening that long can make anyone antsy. Having heard much and trying to figure out what all of it might mean, they begin to pack up their belongings and wearily head home. And then, a rumble through the crowd. Wait, it says. Stay. For a meal. Although they were probably relieved to hear that they would have some sustenance for their journeys home, a majority of people gathered must have wondered how Jesus and his disciples were going to feed everyone
5 there. Most had probably never seen that many people gathered in one place. Certainly they had never seen that much food before. So they wait, and wait, this crowd gathered there. Where is our promised food? Many are restless, tired, and hungry. Remember, they just listening to what amounted to a day long lecture, and though we all know that Jesus was a very good teacher, that is still a long, long day, especially including travel time for most of the crowd. Then, another ripple through the crowd. The apostles have five loaves and two fishes to feed all of us. Ha! they think. So how is this so called Messiah, this shyster, going to feed all of us with that? Some must feel let down. If he says he can feed us all, and he can't, then how can he possibly be the messiah? But then, the baskets start making their rounds. Huge baskets, like big old laundry baskets that you struggle with on the stairs to the laundry room, overflowing with bread and fish. They seem to never empty. The people
6 take food enough to fill themselves contentedly. They watch others eat to their fill. For some, this meal of barley loaves, one of the the cheapest breads of Jesus's time, and simple fish from a local body of water, must seem very shabby compared to their normal meals, but still very filling and nourishing. For others, it might be the best meal they've had in a long time, or even, the only full meal they've had all week. The people gathered laugh together, they talk over their meals, and they reflect together on what they ve learned that day. When people finish, they again pack up their belongings and head to their homes. But instead of being weary from their long day, they re refreshed. Instead of being confused, they re filled. They still have questions, they still don t know what the heck is going on, but at least their tummies are full. When we read and ponder this story, we all recognize the obvious miracle: Jesus and his disciples fed 5000 men plus an uncounted number of women and children with just five loaves and two fishes, with many more leftovers than they even started with. But what strikes me the most about this passage is the less obvious miracles: Jesus and his disciples brought
7 people of all different backgrounds and statuses together for a meal. They fed tired, hungry people in need with just what they had. They didn t just tell people about the kingdom of heaven they SHOWED them what it s supposed to look like. I think so often, when we think about the impact we re having on the world and how we can build up God s kingdom, we think about the direct actions. Preach a sermon. Give pantry staples to the food bank. Walk in a fundraiser for hunger. Read that bestselling book about faith. And, probably the scariest of them all: talk to someone about our beliefs. Now, don t get me wrong, these are all good things. But they are not enough. Because God s kingdom doesn t just exist in our words and our big actions, but in every single second of our lives and every little action that we take. I think so many of us, myself included, think that we have to take these big steps to furthering God s kingdom. But in reality, if we keep our eyes open in the little moments, the opportunities to further God s kingdom are endless.
8 This is what Jesus did. Jesus spent ALL DAY talking to his people about God and his coming to live among the people on Earth and what it meant for the kingdom of heaven. AND YET. And yet he knew that that wasn t enough. He knew that people wouldn t understand the full impact of the kingdom he was creating unless he SHOWED them what he wanted it to look like. And I m not talking about showing them in walking on water style. (He does that right after this passage in the book of Mark, by the way.) I m talking about a simple meal. The cheapest bread, and the smallest morsels of freshly caught fish become powerful stuff when eaten banquet style with people just brimming with thoughts and hopes and dreams about what Jesus taught them all that day. I ll leave you with one other thought to ponder this week. These people that Jesus directly taught and touched and fed they all became disciples, whether they were named in the Bible as such or not. Each one of those banquet attendees left a little changed. They remembered what they saw and heard. And whether they knew it or not, just like all of us, their actions after that moment were different than they would have been before they
9 witnessed those miracles. They had to be. People don t witness something like that and leave unchanged. As you go from this place today, remember to not pass by or write off any moment of this wild, and wondrous life of ours too hastily. Every moment, however insignificant it might seem, is an opportunity to make God s kingdom a little wider and a little grander. Amen.
10 Communion Invitation Friends, as we gather around this table, we remember all the meals Jesus shared in his life time with friend and foe, saint and sinner alike. We remember when he nourished five thousand people gathered from all walks of life with simple bread. He welcomed everyone to his table and we do the same now. Young and old, new and familiar faces, doubters and believers: come to this table of abundant grace and heavenly feasting. We stand shoulder to shoulder around this table so in a moment I will invite you forward. We receive communion by Intinction. When the server comes to you, take a piece of bread and dip it in the cup, which is grape juice. If you need gluten free elements, let your server know. If you prefer a blessing in words instead of communion, simply cross your arms over your chest. Come!
11 [Break the break] Through the broken bread, we participate in the body of Christ. Benediction I ve adapted our benediction today from Hebrews 13:20 21: May the God of peace equip you with every good thing to do his will, by developing in us what pleases him through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory forever and always. Amen. Go in peace!