SUNDAY 9 th Sunday after Pentecost DATE 6 August 2017 (Year A) PREACHER The Revd Gill Rookyard Mathew 14: 13-21 Now when Jesus heard of John the Baptist s beheading, he withdrew from there 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. ************************************************
Today, Mandy has read for us what is probably one of the most iconic, and most well-known, Gospel stories. So what do we call this story? What is its title? The miracle of the loaves and fishes. The feeding of the 5000. The multiplication miracle. And, how many of you have heard a sermon on this story before? Two sermons? Many sermons? Yeah, I thought so. Now, what were those sermons about? What do you most remember about them? Yeah, I thought so the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish with enough for left-overs tomorrow. I ve even brought along some loaves and fishes for you to enjoy today although I m not sure the marshmallow fish and the bread will taste too good together! So, what s the point for us? What s the point if long ago, on a particular day, a large crowd gathered on a hillside and were given fish sandwiches for tea? Here s the thing I believe that we must never be content to regard the miracles of Jesus as something which happened; we must always regard them as something which happens. They are not isolated events in history; rather, they are demonstrations of the always and forever operative power of Jesus Christ in the world, today, and every day. That s the point for us. It s less about how long ago, on a particular day, a large crowd gathered on a hillside and were given fish sandwiches for tea (as delicious and astonishing as I m sure it was), and more about how that same miracle happens today; how it happens in our midst; and how we participate. So let s dig a little bit Different people understand this miracle in different ways, and even scholars and theologians have longdebated what actually happened on the shores of Galilee that day. That being said, there are three ways that we could look at this miracle.
Firstly, we may look at it as a simple multiplication of loaves and fishes. Jesus blessed the little that was offered, and ended up with more than enough to go around. That s certainly one way to look at it, even if it does sound a bit like magic. Secondly, other people see this miracle in a more sacramental way. They believe that those who were present received only the smallest morsel of food, and yet with that were strengthened for their journey and were content. They have felt that this was not a meal where people s physical appetites were satisfied; but rather a meal where they ate the spiritual food of Christ. If that be so, then this is a miracle which is re-enacted every time we gather at the table of our Lord; for there comes to us the spiritual food which sends us out with firmer feet and greater strength for the way of life which leads to God. And thirdly, there are those who see in this miracle something which in a sense is perfectly natural, and yet which in another sense is a real miracle, and which in any sense is very precious. Picture the scene. There is the crowd; it is late; and they are hungry. But was it really likely that the vast majority of that crowd would set out around the lake without any food at all? Would they not have taken something with them, however little, especially given that we hear there were men, women and children gathered. I know if it was my little family heading out on an excursion, we d be burdened beneath Micah-snacks, never mind what Mark and I might pack for ourselves! Now nonetheless it was evening, and the crowd is hungry. But they were also selfish. And no one would offer what they d brought, lest they d have to share it with others and be left without enough for themselves and their own family. Except for a little boy who brought forward his five loaves and two fish sounds like the contents of his family s picnic basket. And Jesus takes the lead. He blesses what was given and, together with his disciples, begins to share it with those who have gathered. And as people receive, so they begin to share what they have brought, and before they knew what was happening, there was enough - and more than enough - for everyone! If this is what happened, then it was not the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes; it was the miracle of changing selfish people into generous people at the touch of Christ; it was the miracle of the birth of love in grudging hearts. If that be so, then in the realest sense, Christ fed them with himself and sent his Spirit to dwell within their hearts.
And so, whether Jesus actually suspended the natural order to feed the five thousand, or whether it was a sacramental act, or whether his example merely prompted the crowd to share what it already had, what matters for me is that a miracle took place; the how for me - is less important. What also matters for me is why it took place, and in this instance, the why is simple The miracles of Jesus were never spectacles to wow a crowd, or a self-promoting display of look how amazing I am. Miracles were always signs; signs of the character - of the God - whose presence Jesus bears. And that character of God which Jesus reveals and represents and is pointing to in this miracle, the character of God he is highlighting in the most delicious way - is captured in a single word, compassion. The word compassion comes from the Latin word compassus from the root words co: meaning with and pati: meaning passion. And so compassion is coming alongside someone with passion with a deep and powerful drive, and an awareness of their need and suffering. Matthew says that when Jesus saw the great crowd that had followed him he had compassion on them he drew alongside them and healed their sick, tended their needs, and shared with them his presence. And then, when evening came and they found themselves without food, he fed them. Before going any further in the story, let s remind ourselves of the context of this scene. It begins with the transitional line, Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. What was it that Jesus heard? The thing Jesus just heard about was John the Baptist s murder by King Herod at a feast, with his head being served on a platter! Jesus was mourning, grieving, the heinous death of his cousin John. That s we he tries to retreat; that s why he is seeking some time alone, but the crowds press in, with their overflowing needs. And instead of turning his back on them and focussing in on his own grief, Jesus turns to face them and meet them, and fulfils their needs, despite what I can only imagine was a pervading sadness in his being. The juxtaposition couldn t be more ironic, or powerful. One moment Matthew invites us to focus on one more episodes from the lifestyles of the rich and shameless and in the next he fastens our attention on a grieving Jesus and a scene portraying poor, sick, and hungry crowds looking for relief.
It s like switching channels from the Kardashians to a news report on immigrant children stranded at the border. Matthew is indicating by these contrasting scenes just what kind of God Jesus represents. In the first century, you see, gods aren t normally supposed to care about people like the crowds. At best, gods were supposed to take the side of the rich and powerful, to stand with people like Herod and his well-fed party guests, sanctioning their exploitation of the poor and even the bloody murder of a truthteller like John. They were definitely not known for siding with the oppressed, the ordinary, the downtrodden, or the hungry. And yet that s what happens here, as Jesus renews, embodies, and fulfills the consistent call of God to feed the hungry. Whatever their initial scepticism, or doubt, or selfishness, the disciples and those gathered around the lake get caught up in Jesus words of abundance and gratitude, and participate in the wonder and joy that all ate and were filled. And that s how the miracle continues. God still cares deeply and passionately for those who are most vulnerable the poor, the immigrant, the hungry and God uses us to care for them. When we bring to God all that we have and all that we are, it might seem so little in the face of the seemingly insurmountable need in our world, just like it was ludicrous to think that two fish and five loaves could make any difference at all, but it did it made a huge difference, with even more left over. We must never-underestimate the potential of our offerings when offered with open and generous hearts. But there can be no miracle if our fishes and loaves remain in our picnic basket. There can be no miracle if we keep what we have for ourselves. This week, let s be especially conscious of the moments we notice when God works through us and others to care for the vulnerable, and let s celebrate the miracle of that moment. As we feed on the spiritual food of Christ s body and blood in communion, let s go and do likewise for neighbour and stranger. Let s bring a miracle into someone s life each day as we share God s compassion, and as we allow ourselves to be the vessels through which another may flourish.