Loading...Usually, as I prepare for Sundays, specifically the sermon,
I read the texts and some writings about the passages Sunday afternoon/Monday.
On Tuesdays, we have a Bible study here at church;
On Wednesdays, I often attend a Text study with other pastors.
I let things simmer Thursday and Friday;
then I “sermonize” on Saturday
(used to be Sunday morning, but not enough time now!).
This past week, as we talked about the story in John’s gospel,
the Tuesday group decided that the miracle was about bread and there being lots of it
the Wednesday group (of pastors) declared that the miracle was of generosity and sharing by the people provoked by Jesus.
Both seem possible. Which one is the correct interpretation?
I reserve the right to say, “I don’t know!”
But, this I do know: God is at work in and through us and for us.
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This wonderful Hebrew scripture story of Elisha feeding 100 men with just a bit of food is one of a series of miracles that God does through Elisha: oil that kept flowing – filling up so many vessels that a widow could sell the oil to settle her debts, the raising up of a young boy who had died, and a purifying a pot of poisonous stew.
These stories make one wonder: do miracles really happen? I mean, these stories were from thousands of years ago, yet they are recorded and retold. So, are they real?
I don’t know.
But, I do know that God is generous and abundant.
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This week, we begin a five week in-depth swim in John 6 – the so-called “Bread of Life” series.
We start the series here, with this story (John 6:1-21) of the crowds, at least 5000 men, attracted to the teachings and healings offered by Jesus and gathered around him. Many of those who came to this place where Jesus was brought with them those who were sick, including themselves!
The people who came needed healing, and they also were hungry for learning and listening to the good news that Jesus was speaking. They also ended up being hungry for bread – and it was given to them. Plenty of it.
This week, our portion of John 6
includes a short snippet about Jesus calming the stormy waves
(and walking ON water or on the seashore?).
Jesus says to his disciples, “It is I; do not be afraid”.
Because they were afraid.
These words of calm and reassurance are some of the most repeated
in all of scripture,
and Jesus seeks to comfort his disciples who are,
let’s be honest, freaked. out!
But Jesus also uses an all-important phrase which, in English, reads “It is I”, but in Greek is “ego eimi”. These words are first found in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scripture (the version that many of the people in Jesus’ time would have used in their daily and weekly readings) when Moses encounters the burning bush in Exodus 3 and the voice of God answers Moses’ question with “Ego eimi” = I am who I am, or Yahweh.
This means that when Jesus uses the same phrase,
he’s making the bold statement that he is God, he is the Divine One,
he is the source of life for the people.
In a few more verses in John 6, Jesus uses the phrase again when he says “I am the bread of life” (which, now that I’m preaching what I put together, makes me realize that I got ahead of myself because “I am the bread of Life” is part of next week’s Gospel).
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So, I wonder: in the story, in Jesus’ self-identification, in his prayers,
is he JUST talking about bread (flour, yeast, water, salt, etc), or,... more?
As I ponder this phrase, “I am the bread of life”, I am reminded of the petition in the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Martin Luther, in his “Explanation of the Lord’s Prayer” found in the Small Catechism, teaches that this petition is not just about bread and food. It is a plea for God to provide all that we might need for daily life.
So, yes food,
but also community,
shelter,
reconciliation,
healing.
God is providing for us with great generosity the things we need for life.
Not for greed or consumption; not just material things,
but what we need for abundant, joy-filled,
hopeful, loving LIFE.
Both forgiveness and the courage to forgive
things enough and generosity in giving and sharing
reconciliation and emotional health filled with hope, possibility, deep joy, adventure, and laughter.
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So, is this miracle that Jesus gives in John’s gospel
about bread and fish enough for all?
Or, is in a miracle of getting us to share what we have with others?
How about it’s both/and?
both bread enough for all from God
AND us sharing what we have.
The miracle is of God’s abundance for life and healing showing up in so many ways!
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Today, in our worship service, you are invited to offer prayers for healing
for yourself, for another, for our world – with fires, flooding, violence, and divisiveness.
You may offer prayers of healing – that there would be food enough for all. Because, of course there IS enough food, but are we generous enough to share?
You are invited to come forward.
Come for healing, come in prayer,
Come to the Table of life,
and then GO. Go and share the abundance of life, hope, and love. Amen
