Do you believe in miracles?
When we read the story of Jesus feeding the 5000, we wonder how that miracle could happen. We shake our heads and try to find the meaning of the story. We read all four gospel versions to gain understanding. We learn Jesus and the disciples had been busy and they tried to remove themselves to rest, but the crowds pursued this new world Jesus was demonstrating in his love and compassion and care. They just couldn't get enough of him.
I find it interesting that in all four gospels, Jesus asks the disciples how the people should be fed. In all four gospels, he even says pointedly "You feed them." He already knows he will perform the miracle, but he tests the disciples to see if they trust him.
And then, Jesus blesses the food and feeds the crowd and there is an abundance of leftovers to share.
"And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.
Mark 6:42-43
For me, this is symbolic of why the church offers the sacrament of Holy Communion and why it is important to participate.
Granted, because of the pandemic, we now receive it in what resembles a pill packet. The foil is peeled back to uncover a tiny bit of "bread of life, broken for you" Turn the packet over and peel back to receive "the cup of salvation poured out for you". It takes more introspection to receive the elements this way. It's not about a minister, or the beautiful chalice, or coming to the altar to receive it. It's just about our own heart tuned to the Giver and the gift we have all been given. A miracle.
Walter Brueggeman says Communion is the reminder: "Jesus has turned the world into abundance. God is the gift who keeps on giving and the people around Jesus are empowered to receive abundance and in turn, to act generously."
Are you astonished at the surplus in your life?
Maybe that's one miracle of Advent!
God of Endless Generosity,
In your love you welcomed when you were tired, you healed when you saw the needs of the helpless, you fed when you saw the hungry. And you showed us by your example what we should do for a hurting world. Help us to have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and a heart to know your will.
Astound us, God, with your miraculous love.
(Celebrating Abundance by Walter Brueggeman. Westminster John Know Press. 2017)
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