February 11, 2015

“Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” One of his disciples, Andrew…said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” 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. When they were satisfied, he told the disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost.” John 6:4-12

The story of the feeding of the 5000 is a wonderful story – a story of how G*d can be a part of supplying the needs of those around us. When you read the whole story, the disciples are part of the miracle. Jesus asks the disciples “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” One of the disciples finds a young boy who has five barley loaves and two fish. It is the disciples who find the meager meal that Jesus will divide to feed all of the people. And then Jesus directs the disciples to “gather up the left overs so that nothing may be lost.” So why is that significant? Well, with Jesus’ direction to gather the left overs so that nothing may be lost, it indicates to me that there is a plan for those left overs. We don’t know what the plans were, but Jesus wants to make sure that nothing is wasted.

There are plenty of programs around our communities that attempt to work on this premise – to collect those things that are left over so they can be distributed to people in need. I was listening to the radio the other morning and they were interviewing a woman who began a program called “The Diaper Bank”. The premise of her program is to provide diapers for families that need help because they are receiving assistance through the SNAP card (the old food stamps program) and diapers are one of the items that cannot be purchased with SNAP. Through the collection of diapers from families that may have diapers stashed away because they no longer have children in diapers, and assistance through other means, they can provide diapers to families in need. You can see the same premise being played out in programs such as Bountiful Blessings, Food Banks, and others around our communities. Within these programs, people are gathering up the fragments that are leftover in their cupboards, in their closets, or in their local restaurants and food markets and providing a means to give them to people in need. Jesus’ challenge to his disciples is the same challenge we have today – Jesus is asking us “How will you provide for these people who need something to eat?” The Lower Susquehanna Synod is the place where we feed people – either physically, emotionally, or spiritually. How will you go forward today to feed someone or fill the needs of people in your community? It does not have to require a lot of money – because people have leftovers throughout their homes and businesses that just goes to waste. How are you going to be the hands and feet of Christ today?

Pastor Dave