Is
there any Gospel reading more familiar to us than Jesus feeding the multitudes (Luke 9:11-17)? Let’s put aside the inclination to call Jesus’
feeding of the five thousand a miracle. Why? Primarily because it misses the
point and distracts us from the true miracles that take place in the story. John
reminds us that the wonders Jesus performed throughout his ministry were signs,
indications of the character
of the God of love whose divine presence Jesus bears. Make no mistake, what
Jesus did is anything but pedestrian but the point isn’t what Jesus
did, but why he did it. Jesus reveals the God in him by his compassion, the hallmark of Jesus
ministry. This single word summarizes God’s unconditional love for us and is at
the core of his incarnation in Christ.
Ok,
let’s get back to our miracle… that was no minor endeavor. What we now call
“food scarcity” was rampant in
the ancient world. And so the disciples’ suggestion that the hordes of
people go away and buy food isn’t just unrealistic it’s ridiculous. First, they
were in a deserted place in the middle of nowhere, and second, they would likely
not have any money to buy food anyway. And so Jesus tells his disciples to get
over their self-concern and desire to be left alone, and feed them… themselves.
Jesus
had just heard about John the Baptist’s murder by King Herod at a feast. The metaphorical
juxtaposition of images couldn’t be more powerful. After hearing the news, Jesus
needed to retreat and be alone. John was his baptizer, teacher and mentor. Jesus,
in the fullness of his humanity, yearned for solace. And yet manages to fulfill
the consistent call of the Father to feed the hungry and heal the sick and fill
the “empty.”
Which
brings us to the real miracle of the story: Jesus uses the disciples, even when
they would rather look after themselves, to tend to the needs of these thousands
of men, women, and children. They go from “we have nothing here but five loaves
and fishes” to one of abundance to “thank you, God, for these five loaves and
fishes.” Whatever their initial skepticism, or doubt, or self-indulgence, the
disciples are caught up in Jesus’ words of abundance and “they all ate and were
filled” as God worked through these reluctant disciples to care for the poor
and hungry that he loves so much.
And
that miracle continues when a parent puts his/her own dreams aside to care for the
needs of their children or aging parent. God is working that same miracle when
a community of faith makes a promise that no one that comes to its doors will
be turned away hungry, or when a Muslim family hides a Christian refugee from
the wrath of murderous radicals. God is still at work performing miracles
through us, his disciples eager, yet reluctant, and everything in between.
The
real wonder of this story is that it continues. God cares deeply and
passionately for those who are most vulnerable: the poor, the homeless, the hungry. And God
continues to use us to care for them.
Just
maybe if we are serving our “needy,” however poor or rich, we are reminded of
the similarity that exists between the scenes in Luke. Let those of
us who have been fed by God’s heavenly food go and do likewise by sharing God’s
love with all we meet and especially with those in deepest need.
There
are two miracles in this story. They have little to do with simply multiplying
loaves and fishes, and by remembering them, we are hopefully prepared to
continue to follow Jesus and care for those in need. And that is no small thing
at a time like this. Thank you God, and thank God for you.
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