Message from Fr Marcus Friday 24th April 20202
My Dear Friends,
Thank you for taking the trouble to read this. It is one of the ways in which we are trying to embrace and maintain our sense of community and fellowship.
I hope you are feeling OK.
Not everyone is, and when one hurts we all hurt. So if you are feeling poorly, or down, or lonely, I pray that it will pass soon. If you are feeling merry and bright, then please give a friend a ring. It really does help.
The reading, if we were in church today would be the wonderful story from John about the feeding of the 5000. You know it so well, but here it is if you need a reminder.
John 6.1-15
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ 10Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ 13So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’
15When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
We all love this story on so many levels – The crowds following Jesus always delights us. The compassion of Jesus as he is concerned that folk will be hungry. The faith of Andrew who brings the lad with the loaves and fishes, and then of course the miracle itself. Taking, Blessing, breaking and sharing. How brilliant is that. A foretaste of the Eucharist, and those disciples who recognised Jesus in the breaking of the bread in the Emmaus story.
I have an absolute belief in miracles, and love the fact that John calls them signs, which point to the nature of Jesus and the glory of God.
In this case we see a miracle of multiplication. 5 loaves and two fish feeding 5000. And it makes us wonder about miracles in our time. We need them too.
But not all miracles are about multiplication. Sometimes they are about us being more Christlike.
Imagine you were going out for the day to some big gig – and you planned to be out all day. Would you take a packed lunch? I certainly would. Now imagine that thousands of other people heard about the gig, and got swept up in the crowd, moved by the enthusiasm, and found themselves listening to a powerful message. How great that would be. But maybe they were not planning to come, maybe they didn’t know it was on, so they didn’t bring their sandwiches.
Would you eat all of yours while the folk around you had nothing. Of course not. You would share what you had.
Maybe that is a miracle too. Maybe in our time of stress, confinement, confusion, lockdown, anxiety and worry, the big miracle is to do with our attitude. Not just demanding that God fix it because we have faith, but rather thinking ‘How can I be the miracle?’
Which takes me neatly back to the beginning. If you are one of those who is able to maintain a sense of hope and joy and love and faith, then please don’t keep it to yourself. There are planty of people who are hungry for some of what you have.
Bless you. Bless you. Bless you.
Fr Marcus