Readings:
Isaiah 55: 1-5 Matthew 14:
13-21
We pray: Abundant
God, open our ears to hear all that you would have us hear, our hearts to be
touched by all you would have us care for, our minds to be convinced of all
that you teach us, that we might be the best we can for you and in you. In Jesus name. Amen.
‘Where is the
bread?’ the great crowd murmured. It is
a question we have to address today with the same hunger for the answer.
We have heard the
story from the Gospel of Matthew of the miracle of the loaves and fishes – of
the plenty being discovered out of the meagre.
It’s an important narrative to the early church – the only miracle
story, in fact, included in all four gospels. It’s a straight forward telling –
no sermon nor allegory – just action needed to meet the hunger of the
crowd. And for a crowd that was not
looked for, that invaded Jesus alone time as he came to terms with the news of
his cousin John’s beheading. I remember as a child at Sunday School hearing
about the loaves and fishes and being fascinated about how it actually happened
– but trusting that it did. Today I am a
lot more interested in where the bread is for today?
A story of feeding
from today – a minister recounted the day that they prepared for communion –
there were regularly around 30 – 35 so they had the quantity down to a fine
art. And then, just after the service
had started, outside the church a bus pulled up – and in trooped a further 50
people. What to do – the elder whispered
to the minister ‘should I go and get some more’ and the minister said – ‘no it
will be fine, there will be enough’. And
there was – later it was discovered that everyone, without prompting broke each
piece of bread into half so there was plenty for everyone.
This story is not
about explaining the miracle away but rather suggesting that when we are all
aware of those who might go hungry, we look to our surplus, which we invariably
have, and share. We still will have enough
and others will do too.
For it is a sad
thing that this world has enough food to feed the hungry, this country has
enough money for basic health care, this community of Dunedin has enough nounce
to live sustainably. So why don’t we? Maybe we can find some answers, some hope in
this reading for today.
Those three today
issues that bolted out of my mouth just then– the hungry of the world, the
health services of this country and the sustainability of our earth are just a
few examples among many that plague our world today and highlight the paucity
of our generosity as economic and national powers, as community, and often as
individuals. In other words reflecting
the disciples initial viewpoint that people find their own way rather than, as
Jesus would have us do, explore the abundant possibilities of the loaves and
fishes being shared.
I will be nailing
some of my political colours to the mast no doubt – but actually I prefer to
call them my Christian colours!
The distribution
of food to the world’s starving is complex and many layered. It involves politics, environmental
catastrophes, racism, war, rotting piles of surplus and amazing acts of
generosity and commitment from agencies and individuals. It is about our attitude to food – waste,
care of purchase, sustainability, packaging, content. It is about the attitude of those who have
bread noticing that there is a need surrounding them and they respond by
sharing. Afifi a couple of weeks ago giving away her unsold market food, giving
to the food bank with generosity and commitment, popping the spare carrots from
your garden into the neighbour, helping with the redistribution of food within
the city. We can do much locally. But we also need to voice loudly our concern
that the predominant factor guiding the distribution (or not) of food to the
world’s starving seems to be economic and political and often racially based
rather than compassionate, loving and caring for all of humanity. And so we pray for and work towards all
people of the world knowing the sufficiency of Christ through our caring for
each other and the sharing of our bread.
The health
services of our country are a big issue at the moment – actually they have been
for some time. We can almost pinpoint
the moment when in New Zealand we went from finding money to meet the need of
basic health care to making health care fit the size of the financial pot
allocated. 1980’s – am I right? There have been two notable interviews in the
past few days to illustrate the way in which money again is the defining factor
rather than care for a basic standard of care for all. One was the interview of John Campbell with
Minister of Health, Jonathan Coleman on Dunedin DHB. The Minister said that the Commissioner had
worked to half the deficit in two years, – not in any way, when asked, at the cost of patient
care. Quoting Coleman – “without that
clear picture of financial stability, we cannot improve patient care.” Again a complex issue I know and many
opinions but doesn’t it seem that money is in charge here rather than humanity
and at the cost of people’s lives.
The other
discussion was between an American Senator and a Canadian medical doctor who,
in attempting to describe the diminishing access to health care of those who
couldn’t afford private health insurance, likened it to her access to the
Senate – over half an hour waiting to go through security whilst there was a
second entry point with no line up whatsoever.
The doctor said: Sometimes it’s
not actually about the amount of resources you have but about how you organise
people, that when you address wait times it should be for everyone, not just
people who can afford to pay.’ I don’t
know how it works here but I would have to guess that there would be times when
those with health insurance would have a disproportionate access to basic
health services at the cost of those without?
You can tell me later if I am wrong.
And so we pray for
and work towards all people being equally valued not just in our health system
but in every thing that is core to human dignity and care.
And the third on
my list – caring for the world, living sustainably, even if we think just in
this city. What loaves and fishes are we
able to bring out of our baskets to contribute to the hunger of the world for
sustainable living? What could we do
better, where could we speak into situations to improve awareness, practice
environmentally friendly actions? What
decisions do we make, even the littlest ones, that add to the burden of this
world’s choking demise rather than lifting it.
This community of faith is very aware – but there is always more we can
do ourselves and by speaking into situations.
And so we pray for
and work towards creating a world that is cherished and nurtured for our
children’s children and beyond.
Where is the
bread? the great crowd murmured.
The answer is
surprising – or is it? “We the church
give them bread, bread for the soul, bread for the stomach, bread for sharing –
just as we are fed, so too we feed others.
Just as we know the bread that sustains and the labour that satisfies
and the love that delights, so too we share that generously and with faith into
a world that is desperately hungry.
As we gather
around the table today, remembering Jesus, the living bread broken for the love
of the world, Jesus the living wine poured out for the love of the world may we
be disciples with eyes open to the possibilities of sharing what we have in the
name of Jesus. For miracles can and do
happen when we follow in his way. Amen.
Margaret Garland
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