Our scriptures for this week begin with Jesus’ response to devastating news, the brutal killing of someone dear to him. But we also see how he responds, despite his grief, to seeing people around him who are sick… and then later, hungry.
We read about his inner and his outer responses to unfolding events…how he FELT and what he DID. What an inspiration he is to me!
READING Matthew 14. 13-21 MSG
When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself.
But unsuccessfully—someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was.
When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.
Toward evening the disciples approached him.
“We’re out in the country and it’s getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper.”
But Jesus said, “There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper.”
“All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish,” they said.
Jesus said, “Bring them here.” Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed.
In preparation for our worship together, I invite you to reflect first on how you respond inwardly AND outwardly to bad news. How do you respond inwardly and outwardly to people in need?
And then, remember a time when God gave you more than enough… more than you asked for, or perhaps something even better than you asked for!
I hope you can be with us on Sunday to experience all of this together.
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