Pentecost 11

Pentecost 11 ‘YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING’ 7/28&31/05

Matthew, the writer of our Gospel account, creates a deliberate contrast between power as expressed through King Herod and power demonstrated by Jesus. Herod is superstitious; Jesus is deeply spiritual. Herod is driven by fear; Jesus is moved by compassion. Herod resents people; Jesus restores people. Herod parties with the wealthy; Jesus parties with the poor. Herod’s soldiers hurt people; Jesus’ disciples help people; Herod bows to the authority of sinful humans; Jesus bows to the authority of divine goodness. A clearer or more marked contrast could hardly be provided.

This Gospel lesson is one of six different accounts within in the gospel that describe the feeding of thousands of people from a mere five loaves and two fish, meager provisions attributed to the generosity of one boy who had the foresight--or conscientious mother--to pack his lunch. At face value, this appears to be an amazing miracle of multiplication…a small amount of food in the hands of Jesus results in a satisfying meal for thousands, with leftovers far-exceeding the initial fare. We could stop here and be rightfully impressed by it. But no where in any of the six different accounts is there reference to Jesus physically multiplying the amount of food! Notice what Jesus does: Jesus takes the loaves and fishes, give thanks, gives the food to the disciples, and the disciples make the distribution. I don’t mean to imply that the feeding miracle should be ignored, nor even minimized. I am saying that to focus on the multiplication of the meal is to miss the principle message of this story.

I believe this Gospel account is about compassion. Consider the setting: Jesus has just been informed that His dear friend and relative, John the Baptizer, has been executed by Herod, with John’s head brutally severed and gruesomely brought to Herod on a platter. John’s decapitated body is, then, retrieved by his disciples for some type of proper burial. Matthew 14:13 grants us clear insight into Jesus’ humanity: “When Jesus heard it, he went away by boat to a deserted place, quite alone.” (JB) Many of us can identify with this, whereupon receiving heart-breaking news we wish to be left alone for a while…no words, no conversation, no explanations. It just been two years since our home phone rang and I learned of my mother’s death. Our Lord secured time for His personal grief, time to allow the significance of this shocking report to “sink in”. When Jesus re-enters public life, what confronts Him? We read the second part of Matthew 14:13: “Then the crowds heard of his departure and followed him out of the towns on foot. When Jesus emerged from his retreat he saw a vast crowd and he had compassion on them.”

We are reminded once again of the compassion Jesus had for this trouble world. We are being taught, by example, that we do not live just for ourselves. We live for others, also. No matter what problems other people may be facing---lonliness, unemployment, violence, and in this case, hunger---God expects us to have concern and compassion. In this account, the disciples suggest that the crowd be sent away “to the villages and buy themselves some food.” (Matthew 14:15) We might offer commendation to the disciples for their sensitivity to the needs of the crowd, but such commendation is not in Jesus’ response. Rather, Jesus suggests that His disciples feed the people themselves: “They do not need to go away,” Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14: 16)

Do you see the integral part played by Jesus’ followers. This is not a case of bread dropping from heaven, but rather a demonstration of stewardship; this is an example of God providing fully and the Church distributing faithfully. Jesus could have dismissed the disciples. Jesus was quite capable of feeding the hungry crowd all by Himself. He did not require the participation of the disciples, but Jesus obviously preferred their participation. Jesus teaches that, by the grace of God, we can help each other! Whereas we see a problem and ask, “Why doesn’t someone do something about this?”---Jesus sees a problem and asks, “Why don’t you do something?”

Consider the sampling of Scripture: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “Love one another, even as I have loved you” and “I have set for you an example that you should do as I have done for you” and “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” Can there be any doubt that Jesus sets the example He expects us to live? Be part of the solution! When the Bible tells us to feed the hungry, it does not give lessons in cooking…the lesson has to do with caring. C. S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, wrote: “It is giving of one’s self, rather than just meeting a need.” As St. Francis, born in 1181 and dying in 1226, wrote in the beautiful prayer bearing his name, “Make me an instrument of your peace.” Do you have the faith to pray this prayer? AMEN.