Proper 13 – A
Matt 14:13-21
August 2, 2020
St. Columba’s
In the Name of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
What does the Kingdom of Heaven have to do with FEEDING a multitude of people?
On the surface, we would be tempted to say not much.
But if we look a little deeper – we might find that it means everything.
I. Kingdom of Heaven
A. Over the past few weeks we’ve heard several parables about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.
1. We heard that it is like the JOY of a sudden discovery – like finding treasure in a field.
2. We heard that it is like the deep SATISFACTION one feels upon the completion of a life-long goal.
3. We heard that it can START VERY SMALL – and grow, and grow, and grow.
4. We also heard that you have to allow it TIME TO GROW – and that we will know the Kingdom by the FRUITS of its results.
5. And we heard the Kingdom of Heaven is like YEAST having an effect on everything it comes into contact with and that it can grow to overflowing.
B. This is the very thing that Jesus has sent out his Disciples to preach.
1. He sent them to all the neighboring towns and villages to share his message of God’s love and God’s Kingdom – and the people still wanted more.
2. So he and his Disciples withdrew to a place away to renew and recharge their batteries.
3. And yet, the people couldn’t leave them alone, they were so famished for the Word of God that they keep coming and coming and coming.
4. Eventually, there were so many of them and they were in such great need, that Jesus forgot about having a day off and went right back to work teaching and healing.
C. We know what happened next.
1. It’s late in the day – it’s a deserted place – the Disciples want to send the crowd home to find food.
2. But Jesus says to them, “YOU give them something to eat.”
3. And the Disciples respond with an all too human cry, “With what?”
4. To which Jesus replies, “Whaddaya got?”
5. And when they tell him, he says, “Fine, that’ll do.”
6. Then he takes the Bread – blesses it – and then gives it to them;
– and everyone is fed – with leftovers!
7. For little is always much in the hands of God.
II. Feeding 5,000
A. Now the important thing about the Feeding of the 5,000, is not trying to figure out HOW it happened.
1. No, what is key here is to see this miracle as a MODEL of how to live out the Kingdom of God.
2. For as followers of Jesus that’s what we are supposed to do – to spread the Kingdom, and share God’s abundant LOVE and GRACE
3. Jesus says to us NOW the same thing he said to his Disciples,
– “YOU do it.”
4. And we have the same response, “With what?”
5. And Jesus says to us, “Whaddaya got?”
“It’s OK – it will be enough.”
6. And Jesus takes what we have – blesses it – and gives it to us to use.
– For little is always much in the hands of God.
B. The scholar and spiritual writer, Henri Nouwen asks:
“We may be little, insignificant servants in the eyes of a world motivated by efficiency, control and success. But when we realize that God has chosen us from all eternity, sent us into the world as the blessed ones, handed us over to suffering, can’t we, then also trust that our little lives will multiply themselves and be able to fulfill the needs of countless people?” (Synthesis 2014)
C. For, you see, this is OUR job too – to make the Kingdom of heaven known.
1. We are called to share God’s abundant LOVE and GRACE through sharing our lives and our work.
2. This is totally counter-cultural in a TAKE, TAKE, TAKE world that is that is only focused on ME, ME, ME.
3. Yet, we are asked to give – and to give freely – of ourselves and of all that God has given to us – knowing that there will always be MORE.
4. And of course our biggest fear is that there won’t be enough – if we share God’s extravagant abundance like we’re asked to, there won’t be enough.
5. And of course the underlying point being – there won’t be enough for the deserving folks – like us – if we give it all away to others.
6. But this is God’s abundance we’re talking about – of course there will always be enough – with leftovers.
7. We just have to have the faith to step out and do the work we are being called to do and let God worry about the rest.
III. Story
There is a Jewish folk tale, called the story of the Long Spoons. It has many versions, and adaptations, but it goes something like this:
There once was a man who wanted to understand Heaven and Hell. First, he travelled to Hell.
Here, row after row of tables were piled high with platters of food yet the people seated around the tables were starving to death. Each person held a full spoon but both arms were splinted with wooden slats so they couldn’t bend either elbow to bring the food to their mouths.
Next he went to Heaven.
The setting was the same here as in Hell – row after row of long tables laden with food and all the people had their arms splinted so that they couldn’t bend their elbows. But the people in Heaven were happy and well fed.
He couldn’t work out why things were so different so he watched for a while.
As he watched, a man picked up his spoon and dug it into the dish before him. Then he stretched across the table and fed the person across from him. The recipient thanked him and returned the favor by leaning across the table to feed his neighbor.
The man ran back to Hell to tell the poor souls trapped there what he had discovered. He whispered the solution in the ear of a starving man – “You don’t have to be hungry,” he said. “Use your spoon to feed your neighbor and then he will return the favor and feed you.”
But instead of being grateful, the starving man became angry.
“What are you talking about?” he shouted. “You expect me to feed that man? I hate him! I would rather starve than give him the pleasure of eating.”
Then the man understood – both Heaven and Hell offer the same circumstances and conditions. The critical difference is in the way we treat each other.
Conclusion
Jesus says to us, as he said to his Disciples, “YOU give them something to eat – YOU take care of their needs.”
And we are called to respond by sharing God’s extravagant abundant love in the living of our lives.
We are called to respond to the needs of another and not to worry whether there will be enough.
Just as Jesus took the Bread and Fish – BROKE them and GAVE them to the people;
so we too we are called to answer Jesus’ call to share the Good News of God’s Kingdom in the world.
And as we do, let us always remember: Little is always MUCH in the hands of God.
Let Us Pray
God of compassion, whose heart goes out to the hungry and destitute; who takes our lack and transforms it into much: give us the bread that satisfies, the food without price, that our lives may be freed to share your overflowing love; through Jesus Christ, the breaker of bread. AMEN. (Shakespeare p.32)