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Let’s set the stage for what’s happened in today’s gospel. Jesus had sent out the apostles into the country side to preach repentance, to heal the sick and to drive out demons.
Meanwhile, back at the palace, Herod had John the Baptist’s head given to Herodias on a platter.
The apostles came back all excited about what they were able to do and found Jesus surrounded by all kinds of people coming and going.
Jesus and the apostles had all been so exhausted and busy from the work that they were doing that they didn’t even have time to eat. They were tired from ministry, grief stricken at John's death, they were hungry and weary so Jesus gave everyone permission to rest. “Let’s go someplace quiet where we can re-group, pray, fill our tanks.” “let’s go for a sail.”
The thing about sailing is you’re not in a hurry. Sailing is a leisurely form of transportation. It all depends on the wind and the current. It’s calming. It’s relaxing. Not a bad way to start a day off, maybe catch a couple fish for dinner.
Now, the people saw Jesus leave and figured out where he was going, so with great haste went there ahead of him. These were the town’s people; the villagers; the farmers; shopkeepers; the common folk. People like us.
I like to imagine what that might have looked like to the people still in the fields tending their flocks or tilling the soil, masses of people hurrying someplace. They must have stopped what they were doing to ask what was going on. Hearing Jesus was coming they went with others to meet him. Curiosity might have just driven some of them to just follow the crowd, kind of like people who run to see a fire or an accident. They want to know what’s going on. They want to be part of the action. And so the towns, villages and fields along the way emptied out until everyone was on the shore waiting for the arrival of Jesus Christ Superstar.
It seems to me that these people were hungry long before the sun began to set, way before the apostles brought it Jesus’ attention. And it wasn’t bread and fish they were hungry for.
• They were starving for Jesus.
• They were craving the word of God – the Word Made Flesh dwelling among us
• They were thirsty for good news
• They longed to be filled with grace
• They needed to be loved and cherished
• They had no direction or leadership – nothing to live for or look forward to but a life of oppression.
But, these people had had a taste of Christ and it made them hungry for more. So when they knew where to find Jesus they hurried to get there.
Now Jesus and the poor apostles just wanted a little time to themselves. But what did they find? A field filled with everyone for miles around. The Lord’s heart was filled, we are told, with compassion. It was something he felt in his gut. It was heart wrenching. Compassion is a typical Old Testament quality attributed to God. Compassion is God’s merciful love. It’s different than sympathy; it’s not just feeling bad for someone. Compassion moves us to action. What action did Jesus take? “He taught them, he taught them many things.”
Wouldn’t you love to know what they learned that day, what it was that could hold the attention of that many people for so long; things about the Father, about grace and holiness, our place in the universe, forgiveness of sin, scripture. They found God’s word, coming from the mouth God’s Word.
"When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart." Jer. 15:16
They had found God’s word, they were soaking it in and it filled their hearts with joy and happiness.
On the other hand, I don’t think the apostles had the same reaction to the crowd as Jesus, I’m not sure they were filled with compassion. On the contrary, I think they were kind of ticked off that their alone time with Jesus had been taken from then. They may not have been paying attention to what Jesus was teaching because they were so distracted by their own pettiness. So they figured out a nice “compassionate” way to get rid of the crowd. “Send them away, so they can buy something to eat in the villages and farms.” They must have forgotten that it was the villagers and farmers who were sitting in front of them.
Now it’s time for the disciples to learn a lesson.
“You give them something to eat.” “Serve them.” “I’ve been feeding them with my word, now you give them something.”
“Are we supposed to spend 200 days wages on THEM?”
“If that’s what it takes.”
“All we have is five loaves and two fishes.”
“Give them that, give them everything you have (that’s what I do) then trust me.”
That’s the lesson for us isn’t it? We Christians must be ready to give everything in service to the gospel, our time, our talent, our treasure; and not just 10% either, but everything, if necessary. Being in service to the gospel of Christ might mean we’ll have to change our plans. It could be costly. We might have to give up more than we want to – maybe everything. It may cost us our lives.
But this miracle, this foreshadowing of the Eucharist, promises us that even when we give every last bit, every ounce, even when we empty ourselves completely at the service of Christ and others, what is left over is even more than what we started with.
We are an apostolic people, an apostolic church. We are a people sent out as the twelve were so many centuries ago to preach the good news, heal, to teach, to be the expression of God’s immense love proven to us by the life, death and resurrection of His only Son, and we are sent to invite the hungry throngs to feast at the table of God’s word and of the Sacrament of His Body and Blood.
May we accept that call to be apostles tonight. Christ has given us the authority and power to accept this undertaking. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit for the courage we need so that through our efforts people will find the Word made Flesh dwelling among us and that He will become the joy and happiness of their hearts.
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