Sermon Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, July 31st

Sermon

Text: Matthew 14:13-21

So, the newsletter came out a week ago or so, and since I'm sure you all read my article I do not have to tell you that it was about how we have lots and lots of feasts during the summer, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the 4^th of July, but Jesus tells us to fast. Since you all picked it up right away and read that I don't have to tell you that I then went on to say I was hoping that at some point you would all attempt to fast, to go without food for a while. But, you all read it so I don't need to tell you that.

When I wrote the article I had forgotten that this weeks Gospel lesson was on the feeding of the 5000. Food in all matter of thought was a very important aspect of life at that time. Jesus does talk of fasting, but he spends a good part of the rest of his time talking about food. There are many stories of Jesus and food. He curses the fig tree outside Jerusalem when it does not have any fruit. Many of the parables deal with food, the parable of the yeast from last week, the parable of the wedding feast. It goes on and on. It came to a surprise to me to find out that the feeding of the 5000 and the corresponding feeding of the 4000 is the most told story in the Gospels. It shows up 6 times. All four of the gospels record the feeding of the 5000, and Matthew and Mark also contain the feeding of the 4000 which most think is another version of the story.

Matthew's version begins with Jesus hearing some news heading out onto a boat to be alone, but the crowd follows him, not giving him the time by himself, eventually when he gets off the boat he has compassion for those who have followed him. He goes amongst them and heals them. Soon evening comes and the disciples say to Jesus, “We should send them home to eat.” Jesus tells them, “They do not need to leave, you give them something to eat.” They reply that they only have 5 loaves and 2 fish. Jesus takes the little bit of food, blesses it, and has the disciples pass it around. They do and everyone has enough, so much that when they collect the leftovers they have 12 baskets full of broken pieces. It ends with the number of people there, 5000 besides women and children.

At one point I thought this was because they didn't count women, and it may have some of that still, but the word used here for the 5000 could be both men or people. Mark shows it as just people, so only 5000, but here Matthew says that it is 5000 men plus women and children, not to not count them, but to show that this feeding is more abundant than we first thought.

When I first read this story I got stuck on the first verse, I had to look back at the previous story to see why Jesus was reacting like this. It turns out to be a rather important event, Jesus here hears the news of John the Baptist's death. John's death is a little tale of court drama set in a massive feast. John is imprisoned because he spoke up against Herod's marrying of his dead brother's wife Herodias, but Herod does not want to kill John thinking that may cause a rebellion against him. But, at his birthday feast he gets rather drunk and Herodias daughter Salome dances for him, he is so enthralled that he tells her she can have anything, up to half his kingdom, her mother has anticipated this and has told Salome to ask for John's head on a platter. Herod is shocked, but agrees. That's a rather shocking story for Jesus to hear.

The two feasts we find one after another are dramatic in their difference. Herod's feast is a feast of decadence and exclusion, one with only enough for those who were deemed worthy. One where cares for the world are ignored and neglected. Jesus' feast is one given through God, it is one that has more than enough for all who are there, it is simple, bread and fish, what the lower class would eat. One where the cares of the world are directly addressed and dealt with.

It is also a feast that feeds all, 12 is one of those numbers that always has more meaning behind it. It signifies the twelve tribes, and therefore the whole people of Israel, and later the whole people of the world. Here we find 12 baskets full, full of what? Broken pieces. Jesus' feast is a feast for the whole of the world, the whole of the world full of broken people. Herod's feast is for himself and his friends. Jesus's feast is the real great feast, a simple one where all are invited, not a lavish affair only a few can attend.

How many feasts are there where only the worthy are invited? Where there is only food enough for a few? The feasts that we do not invite others to, where we only let in those we consider worthy? Or the feasts where we are not welcome because we are not worthy? In some many times we are the ones outside the feast, we are in helpless states, out without the true food that we need, unwelcome.

Jesus feeds us in our helpless states. God provides abundance.

In all of the versions of this story, Jesus takes the bread and breaks it in the same manner as in the Lord’s Supper. The importance of these stories is not food, but Jesus feeding, our being filled with what we need. In this story Jesus feeds 5000 plus an unknown number of women and children, in the other he feeds 4000, in the last supper he feeds 12, in his death he feeds all. This is a simple feast of bread and fish, the ultimate feast is a simple one of bread and wine.

The impact of this story cannot be ignored, Jesus shows forth God. We cannot feed those around us, only God can truly feed. God has gives such a simple abundance, which is shared without care of running out. Christ's feast is a place where all are equal and all are welcome, where we will not be sent home because there is not enough. It is a place where we do not have to whole in order to feast, a place where we do not need to pay in order to eat. It is a place where Christ takes a few loaves of ordinary bread and through them does wonders. Christ does such great wonders with ordinary people like us, like those around us, like those in the rest of the ELCA, and all Christians throughout the world. Through being fed in simple abundance we have the strength to show that the love of Christ is enough for all the world.

This story tells the entire mission of Christ. He is the one who goes out, people are uncontrollably drawn to him for a variety of reasons, we are the ones who are hurt in so many varied ways, physical harm, emotionally harmed, and Jesus heals us. We are the ones who are hungry in all method of ways, hungry for nourishment, hungry for knowledge, hungry for a place to be who God made us to be, hungry to simply be. And Jesus feeds us.

Let us pray,

God we thank you for giving us our daily bread, we thank you for giving us your healing presence. Give us the wonderful gift of your simple feast, let us eat of the food which truly feeds us with the things we need, your presence and love.

Amen.