Jesus Over Delivers On Our Needs

By Fr. Dexter Brereton

Nothing Can Out-Do the Generosity Of God . . .

[simpleazon-image align=”left” asin=”1601374585″ locale=”us” height=”375″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Y05lvdC%2BL.jpg” width=”249″]The Gospel story this Sunday, the multiplication of the loaves is the only miracle recounted in all four canonical gospels, twice in Mark and twice in Matthew. The lectionary which has been reading continuously from Mark, this Sunday chooses instead the version of the story according to St John, which is perhaps more detailed in its theology. Scholars speculate that the prominent attention given this incident points to the fact that it may well have played a prominent role in the early Christian Eucharist celebrated by the followers of Jesus. Jesus’ actions in the miracle: he took the loaves, gave thanks and gave them out to all who were sitting ready powerfully evokes the actions of the celebrant at the Eucharist. The phrase “gave thanks” is translated in Greek as ‘eucharisteo’ the word at the root of the English word Eucharist – another name for the mass. Another important point should not escape our notice. Toward the end of the reading the people say of Jesus: “This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.” This is a reference to the famous ‘prophet like Moses’ foretold in Deut 18: 15, 18 who according to Jewish scriptures was expected in the final days. This is Jesus the new Moses who never leaves us hungry.

This gospel reading finds me in a moment of transition. My room is in complete turmoil as I prepare to move to begin parish ministry tomorrow. Even though this is a place that I know, I find myself in a position somewhat akin to a nervous bridegroom. I ask myself: “Will it be enough?” “Will the parish and I together be able to accomplish the task of spreading the “Joy of the Gospel” everywhere?” Or will we fall apart in negativity, intrigue and the usual politicking that takes place in so many parish communities?

I read this story and I say “Yes!” “Absolutely!” I believe that God is with us, especially when we bless what resources we have- our five barley loaves and two fish– filled with a deep sense of gratitude and ‘give them out to all who are sitting ready.’ There is just so much beauty in this gesture of thanksgiving, ‘eucharisteo’, over our ordinary, limited lives and talents. For me in this passage the Lord asks us to take a second look at ourselves and our lives as clumsy or untidy as they may be and see them as T.S. Eliot says, as if for the first time.

Here in our part of the world we have already spent too much time mourning over our difficult past. People of colour such as myself, I know, have spent too much time worrying or angry over those who did not and do not, love us, over the brokenness of our families or even the brokenness of our nation. Here in Trinidad and Tobago, a small postcolonial society we feel every new public tragedy as if it were another failure. Jesus invites us out of this loop of hopelessness. Let us look at past and our present and humbly befriend them, give God thanks for them, such as they are, celebrate them and make this rich story available for others. This invitation is good news for victims of domestic violence, people who have dropped out of school, the chronically unemployed, those saddled with a life of illness, even people struggling with addiction.

Lord we pray that we take our lives and our talents such as they are, look upon them with a sense of grace and gratitude, bless them and give them out in service to others. If we do this Lord we know we will have more than enough, up to ‘twelve hampers of scraps’.