18 OTA.11; Isa 55:1-3; Rom 8:35-39; Matthew 14:13-21
What if we really believed someone has our back?
What if we really trusted that our best interest were being covered?
How would you feel?
Paul believed this…What can separate us from the love of Christ?
What would you do in this life?
A number of years ago young Matthew LeSage, a 3rd grader, wanted to do something to help the hungry in his city. So he started a program, Hams for the Hungry. In its fourth year, Hams for the Hungry raised $40,000 to brighten the holiday season for people with limited resources.
Matthew's story reminds me of another young man, 13 years old at the time, who read about Dr. Albert Schweitzer's missionary work in Africa. He wanted to help. He had enough money to buy one bottle of aspirin. He wrote to the Air Force & asked if they could fly over Dr. Schweitzer's hospital & drop the bottle down to him. A radio station broadcast the story about this young fellow's concern for helping others. Others responded as well. Eventually, he was flown by the government to Schweitzer's hospital along with 4 1/2 tons of medical supplies … worth $400,000 freely given by thousands of people. This, of course, would be the equivalent of millions of dollars today. When Dr. Schweitzer heard the story, he said,
…"I never thought one child could do so much."
Our story from scripture for today is about a young man who didn't have much. But what he did have, he offered to Christ, through the disciples, and thousands of hungry people were fed. (Adapted; sermons.com/Duncan, You Feed Them!)
Whether you think you can or not, you are right. Henry Ford
Stephen Covey, in his “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, talks about the Law of Abundance vs. the Law of Scarcity. There’s plenty to go around. And the more you give, the more you have to give. But how interesting! Covey writes about this, & folks act like it is new. Jesus performed it, 2000 years ago, on a rocky hillside in Palestine.
2 Do you ever think of the miracle of the loaves & fish when preparing for a party? Do you think of the Eucharist when you have unexpected guests?
Food & drink are the core elements of our Eucharistic gathering, the miracle of Jesus in today’ gospel offers … a key insight into the mystery of sharing what we have with others.
And all were satisfied with leftovers … (a basket full for each apostle!)
We can build a better world.
How can this be?
On August 5, 2010, the Copiapo Mine in Chile caved in. Suddenly 33 miners were trapped in the darkness. No one in recorded history has survived as long trapped underground. For the first 17 days, no one even knew if they were alive. In the weeks that followed, the world was captivated by their endurance & unity.
It was a time when the situation seemed hopeless.
But their dramatic recovery reassures us that all things are possible with God. (Source: Celebration, 7/11)
At this Liturgy of God’s FOOLISH ABUNDANBCE FOR … YOU,
we gather we bring our gifts: bread, wine, monetary offerings. We might also bring our voices in song, our leadership in ministry. And we bring our pain, our need, our brokenness, Isaiah writes, “Come to me; listen, so that you may live… I will renew the everlasting covenant.” Our Eucharist -our life - is complete when we share all we have & are, making sure that everyone can eat & be filled,
What if we really believed someone has our back?
What if we really trusted that our best interest were being covered?
How would you feel?
Paul believed this…What can separate us from the love of Christ?
What would you do in this life?
A number of years ago young Matthew LeSage, a 3rd grader, wanted to do something to help the hungry in his city. So he started a program, Hams for the Hungry. In its fourth year, Hams for the Hungry raised $40,000 to brighten the holiday season for people with limited resources.
Matthew's story reminds me of another young man, 13 years old at the time, who read about Dr. Albert Schweitzer's missionary work in Africa. He wanted to help. He had enough money to buy one bottle of aspirin. He wrote to the Air Force & asked if they could fly over Dr. Schweitzer's hospital & drop the bottle down to him. A radio station broadcast the story about this young fellow's concern for helping others. Others responded as well. Eventually, he was flown by the government to Schweitzer's hospital along with 4 1/2 tons of medical supplies … worth $400,000 freely given by thousands of people. This, of course, would be the equivalent of millions of dollars today. When Dr. Schweitzer heard the story, he said,
…"I never thought one child could do so much."
Our story from scripture for today is about a young man who didn't have much. But what he did have, he offered to Christ, through the disciples, and thousands of hungry people were fed. (Adapted; sermons.com/Duncan, You Feed Them!)
Whether you think you can or not, you are right. Henry Ford
Stephen Covey, in his “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, talks about the Law of Abundance vs. the Law of Scarcity. There’s plenty to go around. And the more you give, the more you have to give. But how interesting! Covey writes about this, & folks act like it is new. Jesus performed it, 2000 years ago, on a rocky hillside in Palestine.
There’s plenty of Jesus to go around!
Back to us: it’s barbecue season, time for good food & refreshing drink. If we’re sharing a meal with friends, we make sure that there’s plenty to go around: if we don’t have leftovers, then maybe someone didn’t get enough to eat! And if it’s a scorcher, we need a steady supply of cool beverages to keep pace with everyone’s thirst (I didn’t say which kind!).2 Do you ever think of the miracle of the loaves & fish when preparing for a party? Do you think of the Eucharist when you have unexpected guests?
Food & drink are the core elements of our Eucharistic gathering, the miracle of Jesus in today’ gospel offers … a key insight into the mystery of sharing what we have with others.
But life is real right? There are limits!
The disciples saw disaster looming, but they were relying on what little they could find themselves. They only had five loaves & two fish with which to feed a crowd of more than 5,000. Night was falling, & there was nothing else to eat. The situation seemed hopeless. Jesus said, “Bring the bread & the fish here to me,” & he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.And all were satisfied with leftovers … (a basket full for each apostle!)
(Adapted; Living With Christ, 7/11)
We do have food to give.We can build a better world.
How can this be?
On August 5, 2010, the Copiapo Mine in Chile caved in. Suddenly 33 miners were trapped in the darkness. No one in recorded history has survived as long trapped underground. For the first 17 days, no one even knew if they were alive. In the weeks that followed, the world was captivated by their endurance & unity.
It was a time when the situation seemed hopeless.
But their dramatic recovery reassures us that all things are possible with God. (Source: Celebration, 7/11)
At this Liturgy of God’s FOOLISH ABUNDANBCE FOR … YOU,
we gather we bring our gifts: bread, wine, monetary offerings. We might also bring our voices in song, our leadership in ministry. And we bring our pain, our need, our brokenness, Isaiah writes, “Come to me; listen, so that you may live… I will renew the everlasting covenant.” Our Eucharist -our life - is complete when we share all we have & are, making sure that everyone can eat & be filled,
… with leftovers to spare!
Remember, ever so slowly, we are beginning to get the idea that God will take care of all of us. Paul believed this … What can separate us from the love of Christ?
If you do you, go & make some leftovers!