1 Al Crumpton Saint Mark s Homily Year B Proper 12 July 28 and 29, 2012 Text: John 6:1-21 In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit please be seated. I am sure most of us have experienced times in our lives where the situation we were in seemed too much to handle. In times like these, we are faced with two options. One is to shrug our shoulders and give up like nothing ever happened or the other is to somehow, find a way to plow through the obstacle before us to the end. Our gospel today brings light to this scenario. It highlights our finite human knowledge while pointing toward the incarnation that lives in Jesus. We read in this passage that there is overwhelming need for food to feed the five thousand and few resources available to the disciples. After surveying the crowd, Jesus asks a question that tests the
2 limits of the disciples knowledge: Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat? Philip replies rationally that, six months wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little. Andrew identifies the boy with the five barley loaves and two fish but asks, what are they among so many people? This is the point where knowledge ends and Jesus begins. I think it is safe to say that those of us who traveled to Lima, Peru to work with Townsend, Dawn, Lucy, and Lily Cooper this past week may have asked similar questions when we arrived at the site where we were to work. Our mission was to help construct a boundary wall for an Anglican mission church in a shanty-town area outside of the city called Villa Maria, which will also one day be the location for a medical clinic. This sounded like a reasonable task when I, and the others, first heard about it, but nothing
3 could have prepared us for what we were to do until we arrived on the site. To begin with, the church, which is still under construction, is built into the side of the mountain with one of the four walls being the mountain itself. The property boundary wall we were to begin constructing was to be built 25 feet ABOVE the church. Yes, from the place where we were working, you could see into the center of the church. This seemed like an impossible task, but we were determined to give it our best shot. Our first objective was to get to the point where the wall had been marked off and dig from a narrow walking path into the mountain 5 feet so that the foundation of the wall could be set. This involved breaking up much rock, which Steve Banks became an expert at this task to hurling countless rocks and wheelbarrows full of dirt down the mountain that the rest of us mastered by the end of the week.
4 More than once during the week I thought of Jesus saying that if you only have faith of a mustard seed you can move mountains (Matthew 17:20) I thought to myself that may be the case, I just never thought I or we would be moving the mountain one rock at a time. The area where were working offered no signs of hope at first glance. By North American standards, it was bleak looking at best. Not to mention that it was located adjacent to the 2 nd largest cemetery in the world one valley over. There was no vegetation just rocks and dirt. However, people found a way to survive in these conditions even without running water or sewer. It was in the residents of the area with whom we were working side by side that we who had come to help were being helped ourselves. We were welcomed with open arms by incredible people who did not take anything for granted. They were appreciative for what little they had and for what we had come to do to help. There
5 were two ladies in particular from the community that I must admit worked circles around the men in our group. I share all of this with you to show that where OUR rational thought ended. JESUS took over and showed us his plan. Where we saw limitation and impossible circumstances, Jesus opened our eyes to unforeseen possibilities and people who were right where they needed to be to encourage us. We learned in a real and tangible way that God has no limits. In fact, He often encourages us to reach beyond our own perceived limitations to realize greater achievements that are locked within our own abilities. Jesus words of encouragement have been reflected for us in the actions of many. The life God has chosen for the Coopers and their decision to follow God s lead is an inspiration for us all. Fr. Aurelio, who is the rector of the parish, Sagreda Familia, where we were working and who we
6 affectionately referred to as PADRE was a constant source of joy and encouragement. In spite of not speaking English, Fr. Aurelio was able to communicate with all of us, even the non-spanish speakers. He started our days with music and prayer and then through the day you never knew when he would break into singing a Beatles song. The residents who were working with us were patient and kind even when they were outperforming us gringos. We were also greeted with the love of Christ from the warm welcome we received from Oscar Patron s family. And, I can t forget the nuns at the convent who made sure we had a place to sleep, food to eat, and any other assistance when several of us weren t feeling well. We went to Lima to help and minister, but we were surprised to realize that we ourselves were also being positively impacted by the joy, kindness, determination, and perseverance of the people we came to assist. The spirit
7 within them inspired us by making the most of their lives and offering glory to God in a harsh and rugged environment. I believe that the experiences of our team from this past week will have an impact far beyond the physical labor. Just like in our gospel from John, Jesus is calling all of us to reach beyond our limitations in faith to seek his direction. When we follow God s will the impact we have in the world may appear unassuming but it has the potential to be tremendous. If we look around, we can find evidence everywhere, even on a remote rocky hillside outside of Lima, Peru, where God is working through others for a greater good for all. It was a small group who went to Lima but a monumental effort that went into making this trip possible. Know that we could not have done the work God had for us to do without the prayers and support of this entire parish. So, in a sense God was able to use the small efforts from
8 each of us to make a significant and lasting impact in Lima, Peru. Jesus reminds us that when we reach the limits of our human knowledge like the disciples did with a few loaves of bread and a two fish to feed thousands, or like our group did on our first day at the work site looking at a huge task to accomplish in a short amount of time with limited resources our Lord stands ready to lead us further. Jesus is always ready to reveal opportunities for service and achievement that we may have never considered. It is up to us to seek his guidance and know that in Jesus hands something small can become abundant, the few can become many, and the frail can be strengthened to accomplish great things in faith through our Lord. AMEN!