Pentecost 9 A: Gift not Goal
Dear Partner in Preaching,
First off, my apologies, as I realize these reflections are nearly useless to you when they come this late in the week. I have not yet found a writing rhythm at my new call to get these out consistently earlier in the week (though it occurred to me if I could double up this weekend I could write on more or less the same schedule except it would be a week ahead – pray for me 🙂 ).
In any event, just a few thoughts on this familiar passage:
1) All of this – leaving the retreat he craved to tend to the crowds, healing the sick, feeding the thousands – all of this stems from Jesus’ compassion. Do we realize just how compassionate Jesus is? Not just back them but also toward us and the variety of needs we bring? Do we realize that basking in that compassion is likely to make us more compassionate as well? The tendency, when we read that Jesus is compassionate, is to take it as an example and push ourselves to be more compassionate too. But perhaps we might try not to make a gift into a goal and just bask in Jesus’ compassion – then and now – and see what happens when we do.
2) When I read this Gospel story, I am reminded of the late nineteenth, early twentieth century penchant for offering rational explanations for miracle stories to make them more scientifically palatable. This was probably one of the easiest stories in that regard, as commentators suggested that Jesus’ action of sharing what he had prompted others to bring forth what they had imagined keeping for themselves. Maybe. Maybe not. Though prompting that kind of generosity might be its own kind of miracle! But maybe the “miracle” isn’t really the point. Maybe it’s more that Jesus, because of both his compassion for those around him and his trust in God, saw possibilities where the disciples only saw limitations. He takes what is there, gives thanks, and gives it away trusting that God will find it to be enough.
What if our congregations acted like that, Dear Partner? What if rather than fretting whether we have enough, we simply give thanks for what we have, put it to use for those around us, and see just how far God might stretch and, indeed, multiply it?
The temptation, again, will be to turn gift into goal. That is, to make this kind of creative, trusting, thankful stewardship an example to follow or, worse, the standard by which we are judged. Rather, I’d say it is a promise to be heard. That is, God promises to take what we offer with thanksgiving and use it, stretch it, even multiply it to make sure it’s enough. Enough for us, enough for those around us.
God is still at work in and through our congregations and people, Dear Preacher. We are enough. They are enough. You are enough. God is not done doing good to us and for us and through us. Blessings on your preaching this week.
Yours in Christ,
David
PS: I’ll put a link to my column of three years ago as well.
In the article above you call this gospel story a “parable.” Why?
Writing too quickly! 🙂 Thanks for catching that!
Thank you for “Dear partner in preaching”! With all you have to juggle, I am thankful that you are continuing to minister to us. Your thoughts are a gift week after week, no need to apologize! And… with the week I have had, my sermon was by no means wrapped up!
Grace and peace. <
Ditto to what Laura said. You are truly a blessing to the church and to those of us who strive to bring a word to the people of God.
Thank you, thank you thank you
Always grateful to hear your thoughts! Many blessings on your new call, and thank you for thinking of us when you have so much on your plate.
The Parable of the Wise Rabbi (Matthew 14:13-21):
“The Kingdom of God is like a wise rabbi, who spoke eloquently and at such length, that the crowd of 5000 became hungry. When the wise rabbi asked his disciples to feed the crowd, they claimed to only have five loaves and two fish. So the wise rabbi blessed the loaves and fishes and told the disciples to give it all to everyone. And there were twelve baskets of leftovers remaining.”
Did the crowd consist only of good, salt-of-the-earth folks? Surely there must have been some unsavory types mixed in. Yet Jesus had nothing but compassion. A few weeks ago, my daughter treated me to a Tom Petty concert as a combined birthday/Father’s Day gift. The crowd was about the size of the one Jesus deals with here, counting the women and children. As we waited for the show, we entertained ourselves by making condescending, judgmental remarks about some in the crowd. How easy it is to be unchrist-like.
Thank you for your thoughts, insights, ideas, and encouragement each week! Because your comments are fresh each week in addition to the perspective your offer, your blog is never too late for this preacher. I am grateful for your continued commitment to serve our loving God.
I am definitely praying for you as your reflections are important to me each week! Even when I am preaching primarily on a reading other than the Gospel (as I am this week, on Jacob’s God-wrestling), I am nourished by your thoughts. Thank you so much for taking time to do this work, and for your consistent affirmation of the work of preaching and your support of those who do this work.
I SO appreciate your weekly column, and almost always find it more inspiring and more useful than anything else I read. I also appreciate how relentless it must be to get it out week after week, and always with the pressure of needing to get it to us early to be really useful. Instead of doubling up one week as you say here, why not skip a week and just start writing for the following week’s Gospel? Maybe it would be one of the most important things you ever “said” to us “working preachers” to give yourself a break:)
Agreed.
In response to Andrew’s comments, I agree…well put…who all was in the crowd. So here are comments in that regard:
Pentecost 9 – A
Common Table Prayer
Come, Lord Jesus be our guest,
but don’t disturb us with the rest
of sisters and brothers
who go without water and food,
lest we find out that they, too,
are guests at your table.
Look up from your bowed head
and see across God’s Table
the least of these and
not out of guilt but out of
love and grace embrace
them as guests.
Save them a place.
So each time you pray
the Common Table Prayer
you are inviting Jesus
and all his hungry friends
to share in the abundant
loaves and fish that God provides.
Food that is shared multiplies.
God’s dream is that no one should die
of want or hunger but as guests
at God’s table be fed and satisfied
enabled to live life full of all
of God’s blessings.
Now you cannot pray
inviting Jesus as guest
without all the rest
of his friends
having a place
at God’s table
of grace.
Copyright @ A Poem a Sunday
May be used with permission
kennstorck@gmail.com
Dear David
Your column is never useless, whenever it comes, but it is always very much appreciated. I had read your previous take on this passage (also very helpful) and had assumed you were currently on holiday – it’s allowed! Yes I will certainly pray for you with thanksgiving for all that you do for so many of us out here. We will never meet but I’m so grateful for your ministry.
Agreed! I did not preach last week but I still appreciate your words, no matter when they are posted. Yes, taking a holiday is allowed. Thank you for all that you do, week after week, to lead fellow preachers into the Word.