The Message, August 6, 2023: "The First Potluck," Matthew 14:13-21

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
August 08, 2023

 

“The First Potluck”
A Message by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Matthew 14:13-21

            I have to be honest with you. As I sat down to write this message, I was not sure which way to go with it. There are so many possibilities.

            I considered letting you decide … like one of those choose you own adventure books that you may have read as a child.

            I considered doing like a magician does and letting you “pick a card, any card,” or simply letting you pull a slip of paper out of a hat.

            But I decided that none of those would work because then I would have to prepare a message for EVERY possibility! So, I decided that if I am willing to prepare all of the possibilities … I will share ALL OF THEM in this one message! (Do not worry. We have plenty of time. The Ray Cornils concert is not until 2:00!)

            The thought did remind me of the time many years ago that I met a young man from Mississippi. We were talking about different things and the subject of church came up. He attended worship the following Sunday, and at the end of the service he came up to me and said, “That’s it?!?! One hour?! At my church in Mississippi, worship lasts about three hours!!!”

            Since we are NOT in Mississippi, I promise that this service will not go a minute over TWO hours.

            Our passage this morning is a familiar one. The account of the Feeding of the 5000 is the only miracle account that is recorded in all four Gospels. That fact alone should indicate for us that this is a significant moment and event in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. So, let us begin there.

            The Feeding of the 5000 is sometimes called the “Feeding of the MORE than Five Thousand.” The biblical accounts tell us that there were five thousand men. If we consider that women, children and slaves or servants were also in the crowd, the number is more likely somewhere around twenty thousand people! It was as if the entire population of Saco, Maine heard that Jesus was coming, and they flooded to some location in town where they all could gather.

            It is no wonder that the disciples panicked. They saw the sea of people and thought, “There is no way that we can feed all of these people!!” (You may recall that the ancient hospitality code of the Hebrew people required a host to invite their guests to stay for dinner as the sun was setting. The disciples certainly did not want Jesus to run afoul of the hospitality code. It would bring shame upon him … and them.) “It is getting dark, Jesus! Send them away! Tell them to go to town and get themselves something to eat! All that we have is five loaves of bread and two fish. That is not even enough to feed US! Never mind all of them!!”

            Time for a miracle …

            Jesus took the meager amount of food, held it up to heaven and gave thanks. Then, he offered it to the people. And they ate until ALL were filled. IN fact, there was so much left that they gathered twelve baskets of leftovers.

            Throughout the centuries, there have been those who have tried to explain away this miracle. (I do not know why people find it necessary to do that. I guess that they are trying to diminish the divinity of Jesus. Or perhaps they are trying to knock the pegs from under the Christian faith.) Anyway, they say, “There is no way that he could feed that many people with that small amount of food! It was just a symbolic meal. Each person only got a crumb.”

            Or, “He did not really multiply those loaves and fishes. He simply got the people to share what they had brought with them!” Which actually, does not diminish the miracle at all. In fact, it is our first lesson for this morning. There are those who refer to this miracle as the “Miracle of the Changed Hearts” saying that Jesus was able to get those who were reluctant to share what they had to be generous instead.

            However one understands or “explains” the event … the miracle … one thing remains; Jesus is the primary actor. Whether he multiplied the bread and fish to the point that it could feed twenty thousand, or he acted upon the hearts of the reluctant, Jesus’ spirit, compassion, and his very Presence changed the hearts and the lives of those who were gathered there.

            What is more, this was not an isolated incident. It was not a one-time only event. It was not something that happened long, long ago never to be repeated again. This miracle of the multiplication … the miracle of the generous hearts … continues to this day. The miracle is repeated every day.

            There may be those who feel that they have nothing to offer. They may believe that their gifts are meager or insignificant. They may believe that their gifts could not possibly do anything to help. They may even be embarrassed about their gifts. But what this story tells us is that Jesus can take any gift and use it. Jesus can take any gift and multiply it.

            When we get caught up in the spirit, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit … when the energy and flow of the Way of Jesus Christ catches hold, all of our gifts are multiplied.

            Okay … that is the first point. Are you still with me?

            The second point is this … when the disciples tried to send the people away, Jesus said to them, “No, no, no … you feed them.” It reminds us of the question and the command that Jesus gave to Peter. “Peter, do you love my sheep?” Peter: “Of course I love your sheep.” Jesus: “Then feed my sheep, Peter.”

            Jesus was the one that took the bread and fish and blessed it, but it was the disciples that fed the people. “You serve them. You feed them. You go among them and meet their needs. You meet them up close and intimate.” Jesus did not rain bread and fish down from heaven upon the people, he had his disciples feed them. They were part of the miracle.

            In the same way, we too are part of the miracle. We are also called to feed and serve. We all have the opportunity to offer the Bread of Heaven to the people.

            And now the third point. We are often so eager to get to the miracle that we jump right past the opening sentences. “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:13-14)

            When Jesus heard what had happened. WHAT happened? Jesus had just learned that his cousin, John the Baptist had been executed. His cousin, the one who had baptized him, had been executed in the most vicious and gruesome manner. So, Jesus did what he often did when he needed to spend time in prayer … he went to a deserted place. He went far from Herod, far from the crowds … or so he thought … to be alone.

            The heart and compassion of Jesus was on full display here. How would we have acted in that moment? How would we have reacted in our moment of pain and grief?

            Jesus did not withdraw farther into the wilderness. He did not get angry and tell the disciples to send the people away. He did just the opposite. He saw their need. He saw their pain and he healed them. The outpouring of Jesus’ broken heart was compassion for the people. The best way for him to heal his broken heart was to love and serve those who had followed him to that place.

            Jesus is never too busy for us. Jesus will never send us away.

            There have been times when I have encountered someone dealing with a particular situation, and I ask, “Why did you not say anything?” And sometimes their response is, “Oh … I did not want to bother you.” I have had other people say that they “did not want to bother God with their problems.”

            Jesus is never too busy to offer comfort or compassion. God is never too busy to hear our prayers. They do not punch the clock at 5:00 PM and say, “Sorry … off duty. Try again tomorrow. Leave a message at the beep.” That is not their way.

            All of those who come are fed. All of those who hunger are filled … no matter who they are … no matter their need. Jesus said, “Come to me, ALL you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. I will give you peace.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

            Jesus is never too busy for us. No matter your need, no matter your hunger … Jesus hands and heart are open to you, and he will give you peace. Amen.

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