Advent Six

Feeding of the Five Thousand John Reilly- 
Methodist Modern Art Collection

The story now darts back to the first century AD.  One of Jesus followers discusses in real time what Jesus is up to.  This is not only an act of generosity for needy people, it is also a symbol of how much we need Jesus’ presence in our lives, right on the inside!

Feast And Fast

All these people!  This has become a phenomenon.

They can't get enough of him.

Taken time off, trapesing across the country.

Is he that good?

 

Now he wants them all to be looked after.

They're getting hungry.

Isn't it obvious this was going to happen?

And we're going without all the time.

 

Let's do a whip round.

Typical - nothing - totally unprepared.

Kind kid- What would his mum say?

Well done Andrew.

 

Here have some, but don't be greedy.

It's got to go round 5000.

I should really be back at work, not party to this fiasco.

 

He looks up to heaven, says the grace.

"Thank you God to the lucky winner of some kid's lunch."

 

What's this? Hand it out.  Sure. Nothing to do with me mate.

A bit more?  Bigger lunch than I thought.

Hey you, give us a hand, this isn't finished.

 

Umm, quite tasty. That's a great bread 'n' fish sandwich.

Anyone for more?  Yes, no problem. Here pass it on,

Plenty where it came from.

You! No need to grab.  I'll serve you last!

 

Do you mind if I borrow your basket?

You'll get it back for sure, with interest.

Vegetarian?! Just fling the fish to the cats!

 

I'm a bit uneasy about this.

This lot are going to want more and more.

I know what 'He' will be saying;

'Food's one thing, but it's not enough.

It's spiritual food you're craving.

This stuff 'll fill you up for a day.

You need manna that will sort you out for eternity.'

 

I'm going to suggest next time,

Let's be a bit harsh.

A little nibble and a small sip.

That's you limit.

 

Bad planning - a hungry people, some wonderful generosity-

 recipe for a miracle?

A young boy generously hands over his packed lunch to a ‘football crowd’ of people.  This is a touching, naive, human story.   Why hadn’t anyone foreseen the risk of mass hunger beforehand?  Large numbers of people with no food.  Jesus stands back.  “What are you going to do?” He asks his friends. “I don’t know.  Bit late now. Panic?”

Most of us blunder along in life without any clear plan for ourselves, let alone for the people around us.  Jesus is always aware of what we need.  Brother Keith, (Franciscan friar from Hillfield) asked regarding ‘saying his prayer’ “what should I pray?” He felt the answer he received was “pray about the things that are beyond your control.”  Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed over the humble offering of food.  Unless we eat of his body, and take the physical presence of his life into our very selves, we shall not live.  In our ‘desert life’ we are there, helpless, having not prepared.  And we receive the broken bread and pieces of fish.  These are to us the substance of Jesus life which we accept, and eat, and are given life.  How often do I need to accept that I need to rely on food given by Jesus, because I have not been able to provide for myself?  The lie in our society is that ‘everything is covered’.  There are no gaps.  All needs now have a solution.  In reality we are quite naked.

PRAYER -         Let us humbly accept our dependence on the goodness of Jesus to do for us that we cannot do for ourselves.