FEAST

The feeding of the 5,000 men. Plus women and children, so that would double or triple the number. I never understood the traditional interpretation of this. What I was taught made Jesus seem like a divine magician, able to pull bread and fish out of his sleeve like an unending handkerchief. It makes no practical impact on my life. There’s not much else to say other than Jesus is special and we are not.

That doesn’t sound like good news.

My friend and colleague, the Rev. Rob Leverage interpreted this story as a practical miracle. I like that phrase, “practical miracle.” Rob states that true miracle was that the crowd gathered was moved from selfishness to generosity.

Kate and I don’t drink much soda pop these days. We make an exception when we travel over an hour to somewhere. We’ll stop and get pop and snacks. Now the folks who traveled out to hear Jesus preach in the wilderness would have done the same. They didn’t have cars, they would have been walking. Some might have had nice picnic baskets like Miss Stacie has. Some might have snacks squirreled away. Some might not have had anything. Whatever Jesus was teaching moved the crowd from a scarcity mindset to one of neighborly generosity.

It reminds me of a friend we visited in Colorado. Kate and I like to just up and go on our vacations. We were at the Colorado statehouse, looking at the murals and amazing history. Our kids could care less. Our friend had so many snacks. Unending goldfish crackers and trail mix issued from her purse which kept our young kids happy. Everyone enjoyed the trip. Afterwards, we were so moved by her generosity, we decided to return it and get lunch. That happened between friends. Jesus was able to create a space where it happened between 5,000 men who were strangers.

It is a practical miracle. People are selfish. If you don’t believe me, just read the comments on any given YouTube video, or during Governor DeWine’s briefings, or any Medina Gazette article. People are selfish. Like those who won’t wear a mask. I’m not saying CAN’T wear as mask due to breathing issues or whatever, I’m speaking about those who WON’T wear a mask. Won’t because of my liberties. My freedom. My rights. My opinion. Don’t confuse me with the facts.

This was with us before the pandemic, too. I only care about my race. My orientation. My tradition. My hymns. My pew. My power and my control. Yet Christ can move us from selfishness to generosity. Move us to share our food with the hungry. Our clothes with the naked. Our prayers and concern with the sick. Share freedom with the prisoner and the oppressed. Share life together with our neighbor. Even those who we were told were different, evil, unlike us. Those who are outcast and marginalized from our group. Jesus goes there and welcomes them in.

The table is a symbol of that shared life. This table is not an altar, nobody and no animals will be sacrificed here. This table is the symbol of that shared life where we put down MY concerns and move in to the freedom of OUR. A FEAST of shared life together with all people in the gift of this present moment.

Go into communion service here.

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