More than a miracle - making more out of what we are given

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God provides something out of nothing. That is the basic story of creation, and it is the way God provided manna for his people in the wilderness. But the story in this week's gospel is different. Jesus does not make something out of nothing here. No — he takes what God has already provided. He draws out the resources that are already present in the community. 

Jesus gets the disciples, and us, to see what’s there with new eyes. The disciples are coming from a place of fear, of scarcity: there will never be enough! What Jesus shows us is that, whatever we have, whatever God has already given us, is always enough. If we look at it in the right way. If we decide to share. If we let go of our fear and stop holding onto to what’s “ours” so tightly. If we can do those things, we absolutely have enough bread to feed the whole world. 

Whatever we brought with us is what we have to share, and there’s plenty for everyone, and more left over besides. This is a pretty compelling picture of what the Kingdom of God is like.

Read Debie Thomas' "The Miracle of Gathering."

Here’s another way of looking at it: this story about feeding the five thousand is the first supper, instead of the last supper. Jesus sat down and broke bread with his friends many times over the course of his ministry, not just that last night in the upper room. It’s important to remember that the last supper is not the only Eucharistic feast in the Gospels. Every time Jesus broke bread with friends, it was a thanksgiving meal (for that is what eucharist means—thanksgiving). 

-The Rev. Jason Cox in "Take, Bless,  Break, and Give. " See also Jessie Larkins, "Dream or Deliverance?" 

The Need for Rest and God's Agenda

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-14a and Psalm 89:20-37  • Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Psalm 23  • Ephesians 2:11-22  • Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

This week Jesus invites his disciples, and us, to rest, get away to a quiet place, all by ourselves. He had sent the disciples out to spread the good news, and had just heard the bad news of the unjust death of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus and his journey to the cross. The crowds were pressing him so much - they were so hungry for his teaching, his healing, his peace. And Jesus knew that he, the disciples, and us, need rest and renewal. In the 23rd Psalm, the Shepherd Lord " maketh me to lie down beside still waters."

Just as he was about to shove off in a boat, he saw people with needs. With gut wrenching compassion he could not leave without what? He did not feed them first. He first taught them. What did he teach them? What need did they have more than food? What needs do we have? How do we respond to needs of others? How do we get our rest? Read what The Rev. Rick Morley has to say in "Jesus' Man-Cave, a reflection on Mark 6:30-34; 53-56."

And just when we think we have it all together, all figured out, and resting on our accomplishments, we are reminded, even when we think we are doing the Lord's work, that our agenda is not necessarily God's agenda. David, a man after God's own heart, whom God loved although a murderer and adulterer, thought he was doing God a favor when he wanted to build God a house. What did God tell David through the prophet Nathan? See Sam Rowen's "Whose Agenda Is It Anyway?" Even though David did not get to do what he wanted to do to honor God, God blessed him beyond his wildest hopes and dreams. Through Christ, from the line of David, God has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams, too.

Speaking truth to power - whose kingdom do you belong to?

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 and Psalm 24  • Amos 7:7-15 and Psalm 85:8-13  • Ephesians 1:3-14  • Mark 6:14-29

The people of the day interpreted their good fortune as God's favor. Amos says that the people were intensely and sincerely religious.

But theirs was a privatized religion of personal benefit.  They ignored the poor, the widow, the alien, and the orphan.  Their form of religion degraded faith to culturally acceptable rituals.  The people of the day interpreted their good fortune as God's favor. Amos says that the people were intensely and sincerely religious.

Amos preached from the pessimistic and unpatriotic fringe. He was blue collar rather than blue blooded. He admits that he was neither a prophet nor even the son of a prophet in the professional sense of the term.  With graphic details that make you wince, Amos describes how the rich crushed the poor; the affluent with their expensive lotions, elaborate music, and vacation homes with beds of inlaid ivory; sexual debauchery in which a man and his son abused the same woman; a corrupt legal system that sold justice to the highest bidder; predatory lenders who exploited vulnerable families; and religious leaders who sanctioned it all.

Which kingdom do you belong to? Consider Dan Clendenin's "Amos or Amaziah?" 

Reflecting on this Sunday's gospel passage in "At what cost?" The Rev. Sharron Blezard reminds us of the costs many have paid, and pay, to speak out against injustice, on behalf of the poor and marginalized, and vulnerable. John the Baptist lost his head for speaking truth to power. A rough hewed farmer, shepherd spoke boldly against the religion of Israel and Jeroboam's kingdom, which the religious order supported in its excesses of wealth and immorality while the poor languished in poverty.

Compare family in God's kingdom in Paul's letter to the Ephesians with royal family life in the kingdoms of Jeroboam and Herod in The Rev. Amy Richter's "Royal Families."

Powerless Indifference

Scripture: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 and Psalm 48  • Ezekiel 2:1-5 and Psalm 123  • 2 Corinthians 12:2-10  • Mark 6:1-13

This Sunday follows America's Independence Day, and our gospel lesson lends itself to consideration of the relationship between independence and interdependence, and the nature of power.

Other than healing a few people, Jesus is unable to "do a deed of power" in his home town of Nazareth? Why? And yet, he sends out his disciples, equipped with only a staff, no food, no bag, no money, and they were able to do great things. How relevant this is in our present country with all the divisiveness and vitriolic side-taking. The Rev. Davis Lose in "Independence/Interdependence," invites us to find independence from having to go it alone, from just relying on those of the same mind, experience and opinions, recognizing that we cannot grow and bring God's good news and healing love to others without true humility, being willing to be interdependent on and with others, not just those of like mind, which leaves us open to vulnerability, but strengthens and builds and grows God's kingdom of love and peace.

Sister Kim Harris, in her "Exposition,"brings it home, asking us to reflect on "How have I been closed to God's ways? How much good have I rejected because the message was delivered in ways I am uncomfortable with? How often have I not heard God's message because it has not been spoken by one respectable enough, by someone who is "not one of us?" "Where am I stopping the miracle of grace in my life?" Peace-making is in vain if we are closed minded.

 In her "Reflection," Sister Harris comments on why Jesus could not do deeds of power in his home town, and concludes that indifference, coldness and disinterest is what prevents the power of Christ from moving in us, and has us ask "With whom, and what am I indifferent? For where we are indifferent, God is not at work there.

 Consider Debie Thomas' "Hometown Prophets."