St Luke 9: 10 – 17 On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.’ But he said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, ‘Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.’ They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Reflection Luke 9 began with the twelve sent on mission to heal and bear witness. We glimpsed fearful Herod, worried about Jesus. Stories of missionary blessing and bewildered tyrant; worlds are colliding as the realm of God breaks into the day.
Then, today’s text. Imagine the delight. The disciples must have been filled with the wonder, joy and maybe, being naughty, the pride at all they’ve done. Jesus wants a private debrief. But as God’s work is unfolding some things become unstoppable it seems. People are, in every way, hungry in this story. They long to listen. They want good news. They need to be healed. Is Jesus the one? Has the Messiah finally come? I notice that, as so often, Jesus responds to context. Private debrief forgotten, he gives himself fully to the needs of the crowd. It takes all day. Which is when the disciples get twitchy. They see problems and impossibilities; too many people, too few resources. Jesus is concocting a disaster and they ask him to stop: “Send the crowd away…”
But these are the same disciples who have shared the good news just days before. They’ve discovered the wonders of the ways God will work with them to change the world. The miracle that now unfolds is as much about hearts as about stomachs. Jesus invites the disciples back to where they were days before when they trusted that God was at work with them. The loaves and fish become more than enough because, in the hands of Jesus, blessings overflow. He invites his friends to trust him even as a new challenge engulfs them. He reminds them that what they bring is enough in God’s grace.
Where are we today? Perhaps we’ve plenty of signs of God’s blessing to cherish. Perhaps our day dawns daunting and dangerous. Perhaps something of both, interwoven. Hold on to this story of how God works with us, with what we bring, to work wonders. Keep trusting.
Prayer God, when our gifts feel too small to make a difference, too fragile to survive, too worn, help us to offer them all the same. Then, in your wonderful ways, do with them and us what you will. Amen.
Today’s writer
The Revd Neil Thorogood, Thornbury URC and Trinity-Henleaze URC (Bristol)
