SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

[cappie]

The story we have just heard about Jesus feeding the 5,000 — stands out in the Gospels. The Gospel writers clearly thought this story was important. It shows up in Matthew, Mark, and Luke and John.   It is a parable about what we are called to do and who we are called to be. If we are going to follow Jesus, at some point, he’s going to turn to us and say: You give them something to eat. And it matters how we respond to his command. It’s about how we see the world, and what we do with what we already have.  Jesus, he takes what God has already provided. He draws out the resources that are already present in the community.

As Andrew points out, all they can find is five barley loaves and two fish belonging to a boy in the crowd. But then, Jesus gets them 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 have enough. That’s how Jesus wants us to see the world. Whatever we brought with us is what we must share, and there’s plenty for everyone, and more left over besides. This is a compelling picture of what the Kingdom of God is like.

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.  

Jesus follows the same pattern at this first supper as he does at the last supper. Take, bless, break, give: those are the actions of the eucharistic feast. Jesus wants us to take what we have, whatever it is, whatever’s already here, and bless it: in other words, give it to God. And then break it open, divide it up, and give it away. Joyfully. So that all will have enough.

Jesus does this with bread, every time he shares a meal. And he does this with his life: lives it for God, breaks it open, gives it to us. And this is what Jesus wants with our lives too: You give them something to eat. It’s not enough to simply pray that God will change things, will feed the hungry and clothe the naked. God needs us to participate in this eucharistic action. God is calling us to take our lives, and bless them, and be broken open, and then given away in service of others.

It’s the breaking that can be hard to face. But you cannot be a follower of Jesus without the risk of being broken. Serving a meal to a homeless person or taking communion to someone dying of cancer — sometimes, such an encounter is going to break your heart. It would be easier to stay safe where you never have to face that reality. But we don’t have that option: you give them something to eat.

In the section from the letter to the Ephesians for today, Paul is calling the people to be generous, by urging them to “lead a life worthy of your vocation.” God has generously lavished forgiveness and blessing on the community after they have received the good news of Jesus. Now Paul is calling them to be generous in turn: in living charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. If they do that, they will live in the abundance of God’s love, which God always gives generously.

We could also listen attentively to what Paul says, and recommit ourselves to living in a way that is “worthy of your vocation” we have received—our call to be disciples of Jesus, our call to ministry. Recognizing once more God’s generosity that gives in abundance, in turn recognize the need in our lives to be generous with ourselves—and so experience repeatedly God’s abundance in our lives. Like the young boy in the gospel, we can give what we have, despite how little it seems to be. To be thankful for God’s generous abundance, and to be open to that abundance by being generous ourselves.

Take, bless, break, give. No matter how hard or impossible this seems, the result is worth it: everyone ate until they were satisfied, and when they gathered up what was left over, they filled twelve baskets. This vision is possible. We already have what we need, right here in our midst. The Kingdom is waiting to be born.