From our Rector

When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them and healed those who were sick. That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.”
Matthew 14:14-16 (Common English Bible)

I have always loved the feeding of crowds in the Gospels because they always spark my imagination. I try to imagine how it might appear if I was to be there: the presentation of the first basket with meager resources, Jesus blessing of the meal, the passing out of the food, and the ever increasing amount of bread and fish. Was it a “supernatural” miracle, where as each person took their share, it was magically replaced with even more? Or was the miracle a change in the heart of the individual persons in the crowd, who responded to generosity by adding their own provisions, revealing that when they polled their sustenance, there was more than enough for everyone? Both interpretations are equally miraculous – one an act that defied science and one an act that defied human disposition.

My reading this week nudged me toward the acts of Jesus and his passing of responsibility to his followers.

Jesus does his part: he blesses the meal. I remember growing up that we always said grace before every meal in the home. My mother would begin to prepare supper in the afternoon, and my father would walk in the door at 3:01 pm (unless work kept him longer). While she worked in the kitchen, he would rest for a moment in his recliner. At 4:00 pm, he’d head upstairs to wash, sometimes shave, and put on his Old Spice, and at 4:29:59 pm, he’d sit at the head of the table, with my sister and I and any guests joining him. At 4:30 pm (on the nose!), Mom would come around the corner from the kitchen with supper. I know that this memory is likely sentimental and may have little to do with reality – but it doesn’t have to be real to be true!

Then Dad would lead grace: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.” It reminded us that all of our sustenance comes from God, that we are blessed by generosity because all things come from God, and that our gratitude is always in the context of our salvation in Jesus. Granted, we said the grace “right quick” when it was spaghetti and meatballs or tuna noodle casserole (or, on my birthday, lasagna!).

After the grace we would pass the food from person to person, filling our dishes from the family serving dish. Younger kids would be served by an older hand. There was always plenty – and there were sometimes leftovers. We never left the table hungry.

I think of how our daily meal reflected what happened in the feeding of five thousand. First, we gave thanks; then, we shared the meal with one another. Both are important: we need to always affirm and say our gratitude to God, staying humble that our talents, our treasure, our sustenance all come from and through God’s creation. We need, also, to share with one another what we have acquired, what we have gathered, what we have made.

Looking at what we have to share, it is clear that many of us have “Plenty” more than we have, and that there is “Good Room” for us to share what God has given us. Maybe we won’t be able to feed five thousand, but let’s feed those we can as we can.

Peace in Christ,
Father Shawn