Are you hungry!
Well now that’s a loaded question, isn’t it? Because this is a sermon, not a conversation, most of you suspect that I’m not asking about waffles or scrambled eggs.
… except.
What if I am inviting us to reflect on physical hunger?
Are you experiencing a physical need? An empty belly? And all that follows – malnutrition, lower immunity to illness, lessened ability to concentrate…
Are you hungry?
…which leads to the next question.
If you are not hungry, Are you fed!
Chances are that if you are NOT physically hungry, then you have eaten. So you have been fed.
By whom? Where did the food come from this morning? Do you have food security (which means knowing where your next meal is coming from); do you have food sovereignty (which means having agency over your food system)?
Are you fed?
…which leads to my next question.
If you are fed, Are you feeding!
Because this is where we recognise that if we are fed, we can share of our excess with those who are hungry, now. Those who are food insecure, now. Those who are denied access, for whatever reason. Those who we pray for; and those who we are called to feed. Pope Francis once said “you pray for the hungry, and then you feed them. That’s how prayer works.”
So. Are you feeding?
This is exactly where our readings invite us into today. The joys of sharing a meal, of connecting with one another, and of living out a ministry of compassion.
Because being nourished – both with physical and spiritual bread – is prayerful ministry.
Our first reading today is speaking of bread – the man – whoever he is – has traveled with barley loaves and grains. The first fruits – considered the BEST of the crops, to be given and dedicated to the glory of God.
And with these, Elisha invites them to be given to… God’s people. To the hungry. The man’s offering is not opulent: barley loaves were the bread of the poor – the man is not rich. Yet, what he has to offer, he is invited to share with those less fortunate than he is. And his concern is that there isn’t enough: he himself cannot solve the problem of the needs of hunger.
Yet: he has faith, as does Elisha, that when the hungry are being fed in the name of God; God will provide.
And God does.
The empty bellies are filled; the depleted spirits are refreshed, the sense of community is renewed.
Because Elisha is not just speaking casually to meet a physical need: he is reminding the people of their covenant with God; how giving of their abundance is to the benefit of all.
He is reminding them of their connection with one another, with each others’ families, with the folks from far-off-towns, with everyone.
He is reminding them that in the most basic of things – loaves of barley – they are all given the opportunity to share in abundance, to exercise grace, and to faithfully live in covenant.
This is the joy that is echoed in the Psalm today, as the ordinary and everyday realities – like a loaf of bread – can be used to demonstrate the goodness of God. The faithfulness of God. The abundance of God. God’s gifts are for everyone: “So that the people may know you of your power, and the glorious splendour of your dominion.”
And this splendour is extolled in the letter to the Ephesians, as Paul waxes poetic about prayer. About holding up one another in prayer. About the connection and community that will come together in order to glorify God: knowing that this glory comes in the basic structure of the covenant:
love God; love each other.
Love, as fully and completely as possible – and then love some more.
Love with compassion and courtesy;
love with kindness and gentleness.
But also love with justice, and right actions.
Sometimes: love with bread.
Because for the people of God who are hungry, that bread IS an act of love.
And this is what Jesus shows in this recounting of the feeding of the multitudes. This is one of the only passages that is present in all 4 canonical Gospels, because it is IMPORTANT.
The Gift of bread is important.
The gift of acknowledging hunger; of being filled; and of feeding the hunger of our neighbours: this is important stuff.
And again. – Jesus is demonstrating that the access to being fed is for all. He again – as in the Kings offering – is using basic foods.
Barley loaves; the bagged sandwich bread of Biblical times.
And the fish – this is not freshly caught fish just off the boat; these are dried fish; preserved, portable, basic protein. The Sea of Tiberius’ tin of tuna.
And what a lesson Jesus teaches with these simple and accessible items.
The people are hungry – Jesus sees it.
The disciples would send them away, to fend for themselves;
But Jesus reminds his followers of the covenant: YOU give them something to eat.
You have a connection to these people, and so you are called not just to feed the hungry among you but to dine with them.
And Jesus doesn’t ask for details, but asks where bread can be found.
And the disciples jump to logic – uhhhh… we can’t afford that much bread.
And Jesus: I’d imagine the raised eyebrow here, as he waits for the next excuse, thinking “I didn’t ask if we could afford it; I asked where we could get it.”
Jesus teaches his disciples that it’s not always about human ideas; but that God will provide a solution.
How lovely then that someone else says – well, we’ve got a bit here, but it’s not enough.
I can almost hear Jesus’ Ah-HA!
Because with food, it’s not about having enough, it’s about sharing enough.
The miracle doesn’t happen right at the start when Jesus blesses the bread; the multiplicity is not a barrage of barley and flood of fish.
The miracle happens as the distribution of abundance happens. It’s in no one hoarding, or hiding; it’s in the sharing that the miracle takes place.
And we hear that people ate as much as they wanted; and then there was more left over.
Left overs for people to take home to their sick.
Left overs for people who hadn’t eaten in days, and had nothing at home for the next day.
Left overs for people who had families with children and elderly, and workers who hadn’t made the journey.
Left overs for whoever might need it – or want it.
Because the hungry had come.
They had been fed.
They had fed others.
They had received the gift of bread;
They had received the gift of Jesus.
And they had their fill.
Because God provides more than human hearts and minds – and bellies – can be filled with. God’s grace and gift is abundant.
So.
Are you hungry? for the bread of sandwiches and for the bread of life?
Are you fed? with nutrients for the body, and the nourishment of the soul?
Are you feeding? In an act of loving neighbour, and the privilege of loving God?
It’s a lot to think about: but as we hunger for Jesus, we should hunger for justice for one another as well.
As we are fed with physical food, we are spiritually nourished on the bread of life.
And as we are feeding those who are hungry, we are living in our covenant with God and with each other.
Truly: this is the Good News of God. Amen.
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