January 3, 2022– “The Ballpark Estimate” (Luke 9:10-17)

“When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.” Luke 9:10-17 

“The Ballpark Estimate”

Similar to the idiom “in the same ballpark,” a ballpark estimate seems to come from the realm of America’s favorite pastime — baseball. It means an approximation rather than a definitive answer. The phrase refers to an outdated newspaper strategy used to gauge the number of attendants at a baseball game when nothing existed to measure it exactly — like people who would be paid to count — or devices that have been developed to do just that. 

Did you know that when the Gospel tells us that Jesus fed 5000 people, or even 4000, it was just a ballpark estimate? While there were 5000 men who were fed, there were also many women and children not included in the “ballpark estimate” count. That means there were probably 15000 people, more or less, who were fed by the five loaves and two fishes. It is just a ballpark estimate, yet it makes this miracle even that much more miraculous. Not only did Jesus feed many more people than we might have imagined, that makes the leftovers that much more miraculous as well. You see, in Jesus there is an abundance for all.

Let us pray,

Lord, we know not just from experience but from scripture that there is an abundance od your love, mercy and grace for all. Help me to praise you for this abundance every day. Amen.

Pastor Dave