To read: Luke 9:10-17
New Revised Standard Version Bible,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.
copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
To think about:
Most
years growing up, we would travel back to the family farm in Nebraska for Christmas. Dad was one of eight, and in the early years, several of his brothers and sisters and their families would also make the journey "back home." Because it was a small town, news would travel that the Bridenbaugh clan was home, and thus many visitors would drop in to greet the siblings that they went to school with or "hung out" with. Invariably the "company" was still there at meal time. An invitation would be extended to join us, and somehow Grandma would manage to "stretch" the simple meal and provide enough for all to be able to partake in nourishment. And there would be leftovers.
Jesus is never able to find a quiet spot. Someone finds out he is nearby and word travels fast, and the crowds gather. When meal time approaches, the disciples are eager for the people to return home. Jesus, being the good host, insists on feeding the crowd, despite what appears to be a lack of food. Jesus takes what is available, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to the disciples to feed the crowd. Not only does he feed the crowd, but there are leftovers - an abundance of them. These words - take, bless, break, gave - remind us of the Last Supper and the journey to the cross where Jesus gives the greatest gift - the gift of himself - and we are fed and filled in abundance with God's grace and there are leftovers.
To pray:
Thank you, Lord, for feeding us, for filling us. May we be good stewards of the abundance of your grace. Amen.
Northern Great Lakes Synod Prayer Coordinator
First Lutheran Church, Gladstone, Mich.