Lectionary readings for today:
Morning Psalms: 119:73-80 and 145
Evening Psalms: 121 and 6
1After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.5When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus
said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9″There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” 10Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.”
– John 6:1-15
I seem to be getting in a pattern of writing devotionals about food! When looking over the Lectionary readings for today, I was drawn to this familiar
story.
I remember learning about this as a child in Vacation Bible School and Sunday School and probably on the felt board during my family’s private
devotional time at home. It always amazed me growing up with this story and imagining 5 dinner rolls and 2 small pieces of fried catfish or 2 tiny
sardines multiplying magically to feed not 5 but 5000 people! I thought of the boy’s satchel lunch bag being something like a magician’s hat out from which countless rolls and fish kept emerging.
Now as an adult, I am still fascinated, but I wonder… Was the feeding of the 5000 a sign and miracle of Jesus multiplying food? Or was it a lesson
about hospitality, gratitude, community, and contentment? Perhaps it was both/and. If each of the 5000 people (not just the boy)gave a little of
what they had with them (water, snacks, fruit, wine, meat, bread, etc), there indeed would have been a miraculous feast in which all were satisfied.
We live in a world and time in which there never seems to be enough…resources, money, food, vacation time, relaxation, sleep, love, energy, peace, time…
What if you change the lens through which you see? To see that you are enough… To understand that when we all give a little, the result can be
abundant… To be grateful for what we have and what has been given… To cherish the belonging of being connected in a community… To share a meal, a quiet moment, a story… To savor the satisfaction of being fed both in body and soul…
I hope we can each consider the truth of this lesson in which there is enough for all… Enough time to take a deep breath and be still for a moment… enough resources to distribute to those in need… enough space to give and receive peace… enough love to quiet fear… Enough food to share… You are enough… We have enough…
May we be grateful and satisfied. Amen.
——
Rachel Smith
Northminster Presbyterian Church 