"Something to Chew On"
Isaiah 58:6-9a; Mark 6:30-44
Over the next few weeks, I plan to continue to focus on the elements that make a church a church. On my first Sunday back in the pulpit, I talked about the church's need to focus on learning about Jesus and trying to follow his ways while steering clear of idolatry and embracing Christian nationalism. The following Sunday, I focused on keeping our eyes fixed on the unseen- remembering the promises of heaven, looking for the thin spaces in this world, and holding onto the hope of heaven. Last Sunday, I preached on the need for the church to follow the examples of Jesus, the disciples, and Columba and his followers. We need to get out of our boats and into our neighborhoods. Today's miraculous story of feeding thousands of families provides yet another purpose for the church. This is a familiar story to many of us. There are at least three themes in the story for us to ponder. But only one of them is a purpose.
First, many commentators see this miracle as anticipating the messianic banquet. Several elements of the banquet in this miraculous feeding make it likely that Mark intended this event to be seen as anticipating the heavenly banquet served by the Risen Messiah. Everyone is fed and satisfied. The food is abundant and blessed. No one is excluded from receiving food, etc.
Second, this story contains echoes of the Hebrew people wandering in the wilderness yet given provisions from God. The event occurs in the wilderness or a "lonely place." The people are being fed bread in the wilderness, calling to mind receiving manna from God in the Wilderness. Theologian Philip J Long notes other allusions to wilderness tradition here. "When Jesus sees the great crowd, he is moved with compassion and observes that they are "like sheep without a shepherd." This is an allusion to Num 27:15-23. Just prior to Moses' death, he asks the Lord to appoint a leader over the people, so that they will not be like sheep without a shepherd. They are seated in συμπόσιον, or "eating parties." The groupings are fifty and a hundred, which evokes the wilderness tradition as well. In Exodus 18:21, 25 Moses divides the people up into groups of " thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens" (Num 31:14)."
My focus for this morning, however, is neither of those themes. Instead, it is upon a purpose of the Church. Jesus' words in Mark 6:37 are directed towards the disciples, exhausted after ministering to the crowds. They ask Jesus to send them away to buy food in nearby towns and villages. Jesus' response is, "You give them something to eat."
I attended the first of many church youth workers conventions about thirty-five years ago. These conventions were a place to learn about new ideas in youth ministry, to share war stories about difficult church jobs or out-of-control youth groups, and to receive inspiration for youth ministry. At this initial convention, I recall a couple of actors on stage playing out the scene in this morning's Gospel lesson. They walked out, said hello to one another, and then turned and looked at the 1,000+ people in attendance. They looked panicked, eyes wide open as Jesus' words echoed over the sound system, "YOU give them something to eat."
After checking their empty pockets and looking apologetically at the vast crowd, one found a basket backstage. Through clever maneuvering, the basket became a never-ending source of food. One actor crouched below the stage while the other held the basket, still looking nervously at the crowd. Out of nowhere, it seemed, the basket provided sustenance for the crowd- a Butterfinger bar miraculously appeared, followed by a bag of chips, some soda, a piece of pizza, and the like. After all, this was a youth worker convention and junk food was a perfect choice in place of loaves of bread and fish!
After ten minutes of the miracle basket producing all sorts of food, including bags of chips, granola bars, and beef jerky, about 100 attendees had something to eat. The two actors put the remaining junk food into the basket and walked off stage. Not all of us were fed, but we all got the message. Jesus wants the Church to use our resources to feed people. I've remembered that dramatic presentation every time I read this passage. Jesus' words, "You give them something to eat," are compelling and challenging.
It is a constant call from Jesus for the church. One of our purposes is to feed others. Yet, using all our resources to focus on this calling is difficult. Other essential parts of church life are paying staff, keeping the property in shape, ensuring the sprinkler system works, making repairs, and looking for ways to fix property problems looming on the horizon. We need to take care of our church campus so that we can do the work Christ calls us to.
This Gospel story helps us understand one of our primary purposes, however. Jesus doesn't say to the disciples, "Go and check the boat. Make sure it is ship-shape and ready to sail." He calls the disciples to feed others after a very long day of ministry. One of our main focuses as the Church is to follow Jesus' teachings and not be distracted by other matters. (Although your church staff does indeed appreciate receiving our paychecks, and we are thankful for the four amigos looking after our property) We need to give others something to eat.
Public Health Advocate Dr. Paul Farmer has been influenced by this story of feeding 5,000 families and theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez, the Peruvian priest credited with creating liberation theology 45 years ago. This theology- meaning "God talk," emphasizes God's love for the poor. Liberation theology's central tenets are that impoverished people are particular recipients of God's grace (part of Christ's social teaching's "preferential option for the poor") and that resistance to oppression (here called sin) is central to Christian life. Feeding others is emphasized in this "God Talk," Farmer states, "If I am hungry, that is a material problem. If someone else is hungry, that is a spiritual problem." (After putting this quote into my sermon, my tummy told me of my material problem, and I grabbed my lunch!)
As a congregation, we do a decent job of following Jesus' teaching for today. We have our Little Free Pantry. Many people from our congregation and neighborhood contribute regularly to helping those who are food insecure in Ashland. Our deacon ministry provides food cards to Shop N Cart for those looking to fill their stomachs. More recently, we provided space for Uncle Foods Diner to feed others and have let Southern Oregon Jobs With Justice feed people in need on Christmas and Easter day. As of this morning, we have raised over 3,000 ounces of peanut butter for the Ashland Community Food Bank so that they can give others something to eat.
Based on last week's message, we are called as the church to get out of the boat and do the mission of sharing Christ's love and justice. So, as individuals, what can we do to follow Jesus' command this morning, "You give them something to eat?" Last Thursday, my Rotary Club asked me to go to Umpqua Bank and sign signature cards for all our checking and savings accounts. On my way out of the parking lot, I saw someone on the corner of the driveway, smiling and waving at me with a sign saying, "Anything Helps." I made eye contact and looked sheepishly at him, mouthing, "Sorry. I have nothing to give." This incident reminded me that I used to carry granola bars and water in my car to illustrate Christ's compassion. When I had something to give, I would roll down the window, look them in the eye, and offer something. Once they got the food or water, I would say, "God bless you." It is a practice I neglected and have begun once again, and it is an easy one you might consider as well.
What happens when we follow Christ's call to give others something to eat? This morning's second passage tells us we will receive a blessing from God. Let's set the scene for this passage from the prophet Isaiah.
After some 70 years in exile in Babylon, the Hebrews returned to rebuild Jerusalem, following Isaiah's call to return. However, after rebuilding and reforming the community, the rebuilding stalled. In addition, the community of God is spiritually sick. They worship in the temple but, once outside of it, do not live lives of faith. Some fast and wear ashes and sackcloths to repent their sin before God, hoping to build their relationship with the Divine. But their demonstrations of worship do not please God. Some community members had more money, food, and resources than others. Those who had more did not provide for the needs of those who had less. The economic disparity led to some form of oppression: indebtedness or being sold into slavery. The problems of the community had morphed from Babylonians oppressing them to them oppressing people experiencing poverty around them. Isaiah saw the situation as severe enough for God to want him to get the people's attention.
So, God says through the prophet, "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them and not to hide yourself from your own kin?" A person of faith is meant to do more than go through the practice of worship. We are to demonstrate Christ's love as we are out in the world so that we see glimpses of the world as God means it to be on earth AS it is in heaven. One of the very practical ways we can do this is by giving someone something to eat. Something even more sensible that I try to do regularly on Sunday mornings- The leftover communion bread goes into our Little Free Pantry so that it can feed others. This action follows "share your bread with the hungry" literally.
The result of following this purpose is a promise from God "8Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and God will say, "Here I am."
Friends in Christ, when we bless others, God blesses us. That is a promise from God directly to us who follow Christ and his teachings.
Today's Gospel lesson calls the church to follow our Savior's teaching and give the people something to eat. The Prophet's words encourage the church to become active in the lives of others, work for justice, take care of people's needs, and reach out to the vulnerable. God will bless those efforts. That kind of church builds the spiritual health of the church community. That is the kind of church that builds up the community around us and is the kind of church we are called to be.
So, as you go out to fellowship this morning, whether eating a yummy croissant and drinking coffee at Pony Espresso or finding something similar to consume in Calvin Hall, pause and give thanks for the food, the hands that prepared it and the wonderful flavors in your mouth. Finally, I hope I have given you something spiritual to chew on this morning. I pray it leads us all to give something material for others to chew on. Alleluia! Amen.
