Famous story. This is one of those with which even non-church folk are familiar. In Australia, it has even been used in
TV commercials to market a restaurant chain. In the ad a
bystander hears what Jesus is doing with the loaves and fish as
all the people are fed. Less than impressed, he asks, "How about
some prawns and scallops? Or a big, juicy steak with Greek
salad?"
One of the disciples says to Christ, "Jesus, where does he
think he is -- Sizzler?" Jesus simply looks heavenward with an
expression of exasperation.
Religious groups down under were not pleased calling the
commercial "irresponsible," and adding that it "borders on
blasphemy." The ad was finally pulled in the wake of the
protests.(1)
"Borders on blasphemy?" Just between you and me, I think
Jesus would have gotten a kick out of it. The early church
certainly liked the story - it is the only miracle other than the
resurrection that is recorded in all four gospels. At least a
zillion sermons have been preached on it - sermons about miracles
in general, sermons about Jesus' remarkable appeal as crowds
traipsed around the countryside after him, sermons about Jesus'
compassion, sermons about our role in God's work - Jesus gave the
food to the disciples who then distributed it to the crowd ("Go,
thou, and do likewise."), or the always reliable focus on the
generosity and unselfishness of that one little boy of whom we
read in John's account of the event.(2) There are any number of
sermons here.
Something jumps out at me on this particular day that might
go right past me on some other Sunday. As you Bible scholars
know, there is something wonderfully instructive in the way our
gospel writers present their material; chronology is always
subservient to the message they want to get across. Here in
Matthew, the story occurs right after the beheading of Jesus'
cousin, John the Baptist. In Mark's gospel, the original telling
of this miracle story, the event takes place not only after the
death of John, but also right after the return of the disciples
from their first "mission trip."(3) Luke follows the lead of
Mark.(4) Now, here we are in Warren, on this day before our Mexico
Mission team departs, and suddenly we are presented with what is
obviously a "Mission Trip" lesson.
The disciples had come back to Jesus after their mission to
the countryside. Two by two they had gone out, preaching and
healing. Now they have returned for a debriefing retreat,
telling Jesus about successes and failures, sorrows and joys.
And it is at this moment, we hear the story of the miraculous
meal. Why? Why here? Why now? I think the answer is one that
will speak to our mission team as they head to Mexico tonight,
and it will speak to any of us when we are concerned that what we
bring to a particular task may be inadequate.
Listen again to the disciples: "This is a remote place, and
it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go
to the villages and buy themselves some food."
Jesus says, "Naw, they can stay; YOU feed them."
"What? We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,
and that is not enough for anything!"
Lord, only five loaves of bread and two fish. Lord, only
five loaves of bread and two fish. That is the response of the
ages when people feel overwhelmed by the task confronting them.
To you who are preparing for the mission trip tonight, I
know you have had some of those feelings. Gee, I'm not a
contractor; I don't know anything about construction - will I be
a help or a hindrance down there? Only five loaves of bread and
two fish. I don't speak Spanish - how can I communicate? Only
five loaves of bread and two fish. Gracious, I'm not that great
at teaching Bible stories in my own language, what in the world
will I manage in someone else's? Only five loaves of bread and
two fish.
We all feel that way at times. The parents worried about
guiding the kids on the right path despite all the pressures to
stray. "What are we to do? We have only five loaves of bread
and two fish." The laid off worker who struggles to survive in a
difficult economy. "I have only five loaves of bread and two
fish." The spouse who is desperately trying to make a go of a
troubled marriage, but knowing nowhere to turn to rekindle the
passion. "I have only five loaves of bread and two fish."
Certainly that was the response of the disciples when the
crowds followed Jesus and them on their post-mission-trip
retreat. Jesus says, "You give them something to eat."
What? We only have five loaves of bread and two fish.
Fortunately for the Twelve, and for us, Jesus intervenes.
He says softly, "Bring them here to me...and looking up to
heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them
to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up
twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over."
There is the good news for you mission travelers who wonder
if you have what it takes for this trip. It is the good news for
anyone feeling inadequate in the face of the pressures of life.
The answer is no, we often do not have what it takes. At best,
in the face of overwhelming odds, we only have five loaves of
bread and two fish. Only...only...only. But we have a friend
who whispers, "Bring them to me."
Remember this the next time you encounter a moment when life
seems so big and you feel so small, whether heading off on a
mission trip or just into the dreary desert of the day-to-day.
Remember, someone is close who can do what you and I cannot,
someone who can take our paltry little handful of loaves and fish
and turn them into a feast. Again, Jesus whispers, "Bring them
to me," and suddenly, miraculously even, our little becomes a
lot.
Amen!
1. Paul King, "'Miracle' TV ad multiplies headaches for Sizzler," The Nation's Restaurant
News Magazine, August 10, 1998 quoted in Homiletics, July/August, 2002, p. 49
2. John 6:1-13
3. Mark 6:7ff.
4. Luke 9:1ff.
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