SERMON - PROPER 13

Matthew 14:13-21

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. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."

Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.

"Bring them here to me," he said.

And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Here we have here a story about a tired, Jesus trying find a little peace and privacy ending up feeding approximately 5000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish! What's our response supposed to be? Nice story - nice harmless children's story? Or are we supposed to make it a little more rational - numbers are probably exaggerated and when people saw Jesus and his disciples sharing their meagre rations they felt bad and also shared, ending up with food left over? Maybe we are supposed to dream a little saying, "Boy, wouldn't it be good if things like this happened today? I wonder how I can get God to act like this in my life? Which area do I need filled to overflowing?

Well, we know at least one thing for sure. We know how those disciples felt! Absolutely helpless, in the face of enormous human need. The problems in our world today still overwhelm us. In fact, if we only had to feed 5,000 people one afternoon we'd hardly raise a sweat. But when we face hunger in our world its more like millions of people starving on the other side of the world. And at least half of the problem is that their leaders are fighting a war and diverting funds into weapons rather than feeding their people, mainly women and children.

And if we look at the need in our own country, while the problem isn't so much immediate need for food, we can cope with that. But the problem is that the people in our community - the disabled, the mentally disturbed, the unemployed, the disadvantaged don't need just one lunch they need years ir not a whole life time of support. And what about the other problems connected with drugs, homelessness, alcoholism, domestic violence, youth suicide - they don't just need food they're looking for self-worth, purpose, and some reason for living! We know how the disciples felt and we want to join them in their cry, "Send the crowds away..." The problems are too big for us to deal with, too complicated for us to solve, too time consuming for us to even consider becoming involved. "Send the crowds away" - It's not so much that we aren't willing to help people, but when your efforts are a drop in the ocean it doesn't make sense to start. There's no real nastiness in our cry or that of the disciples, we're just facing the harsh reality of this world. "Send the crowds away" so that we don't have to feel guilty when we enjoy ourselves. Besides, maybe those people are right who say that if these people really tried they'd be able to fix their own problems? "Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."

But Jesus response to his disciples sensible and understandable suggestion is simple, challenging and strange. He turns to his empty handed disciples and says, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." Who us? We've got nothing! Yes well OK five loaves of bread and two fish! But look at the massive problem!

Isn't it terrific to have so many children worshipping with us today? And wasn't it great to see the Robert and Lyndell with their brand new baby? But how do you parents cope when you think about your children's needs as they face live in this increasingly difficult world? Do you feel well-resourced and confident you can give them everything they need, or do you feel a little like the disciples standing there helpless, swamped by the scary future with close to nothing at your disposal - perhaps a few inadequate dollars in the bank that you'll probably use up in your retirement - and two hearts full of love? "You give them something to eat," says Jesus. So there's no option, with the disciples we empty our pockets and our lives and lay it all on the table - "Look, see Jesus, it's not that we're mean or selfish, it's just that compared to the need we've got nothing to contribute."

Now I know that some people won't be too happy about the next bit in the story. We'd really like Jesus to say, "Well, OK. I spose I'll have to do it then!! Stand back and leave it all to me." Wouldn't that be wonderful? To be able to hand over all the problems of this world to God and see them all get miraculously fixed up!! Yep, that's what we want!

But we also know what happens when parents do everything like that for their children. The child explains the problem, mum steps in and solves it and the daughter never develops problems solving skills. Another child complains about their lack of skill to complete a task, so Dad steps in and no new skills are learned. A school aged son complains about hunger the mother makes a snack and all that is learned is that mothers are willing servants. A daughter whinges she's unable to a task properly so Dad steps in and while the job is done perfectly, the level of self-confidence remains rock bottom.

Jesus says, "Bring them here to me." He gives thanks to God for what he is given and then hands them back to the disciples to feed the crowd to overflowing.

"Bring them here to me." Bring your meagre resources; bring your love that causes mainly pain and fear when you look to the future of your child and this world; bring your scant parenting skills when compared to what the impossible task demands, bring your life especially if it is loaded down with burdens and cares; yes, even bring your money and material resources and we'll see if they are as important as they seem. "Bring them here to me."

And this little story reminds us that when we do this, we are bringing them into the presence of a God who is able to do amazing things even with our meagre offerings. He blesses them hands them back to us so that we can work his miracles in this world.

What, you can't see the miracles? You don't see the hungry millions fed, the problems solved and your children living confidently and well where you shiver with fright. Of course you don't, and unfortunately I can't offer or guarantee you that wonderful sight either. But don't let that stop you using your blessed inadequate resources in the best ways you can. Continue giving towards feeding the hungry of the world, keep volunteering to join committees which aim to do something about youth suicide, don't give up speaking against all forms of violence in our society and families, don't close your minds to new ways of tackling problems just because in your day the problem wasn't anywhere near as bad, and don't stop living as the blessed child of God you have been declared to be.

All we're asked to do is bring our resources to be blessed by God, and then to put them to use in this world. And when you do that, leaving the miracles up to God, and if you look with the eyes of faith, every now and then you will catch a glimpse of a wonderful miracle. Problems are solved, people do rediscover who they are and what they are meant to do in this life, and children survive and thrive because of the faith and unwavering love of their parents.

Just don't expect the same miracle each time. Our God has much more to give than full stomachs and much more than the easy and quick solutions that we can see.

I ended with the story about the man finding star fish washed up on the beach after a storm. He started throwing them back one by one. Another chap came along and laughed. "There are starfish on the beach for the next 40 miles," he said, "you may as well give up, your actions will make no difference at all."

The man simply picked up one more and threw it into the waves, "Well,"he said, "I think it made a difference to that one."