Rev. Christine Dudley

Text: John 6:1-14: Feeding the Five Thousand

Remembering the scripture story, from the Gospel of John, let us pause for a moment, to listen to words of prayer and blessing by Joy Mead:

God of our open futures,
help us:
to explore
once upon a time moments
where stories begin
and outrageous hope,
outspoken love,
justice and joy
are released;

to see
where the nudging angels
move amongst people
longing for comfort and community
sensing beginnings of friendship
wanting touch and affirmation;

to enable
life's great feast to happen,
hearts and hands, baskets and pockets
to open,
neighbour to share bread
and peace with neighbour,
to make a place for another;

so that in the most ordinary of miracles
all are fed.

( "The Miracle of Sharing", by Joy Mead
Holy Ground: Liturgies and Worship Resources for an Engaged Spirituality,
edited by Neil Paynter and Helen Boothroyd, Wild Goose Publications, 2005, p.80)

The story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, as told in the Gospel of John, is a wonderful account of needs being met with generosity, thanksgiving, and an openness to creativity and the movement of God's spirit in gathered community. No one is too small and insignificant to play a part in God's commonwealth. John tells us that a child, who had no social status or value in his time and place, gave what he had and in the abundance of God's blessing there was more than enough for everyone.

I also believe that the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand is about more than food for the body. The people who gathered to hear Jesus speak were also looking for food for the spirit. Jesus' reputation as a healer, teacher of wisdom, prophet and holy man was widespread and people were hungry for words of hope and liberation from the many forms of oppression they experienced.

Through his teachings, and compassionate actions, Jesus showed people a glimpse of God's commonwealth where all are valued, welcomed, and important. He showed that all have something to offer even those, or perhaps especially those, who seem unlikely purveyors of God's wisdom and grace.

I have had several reminders, recently, of the importance of remembering this truth. The first was this past June when Allison Rennie and Chris Burns, staff members of Naramata Centre, came to Nelson to meet with a small group of women from Nelson United Church to begin planning for the 2010 Western Women's Conference. After some brief introductions and background information, and before we began brainstorming ideas, Allison told us that "In this room, we have all that we need to do the planning for this event." It was an empowering reminder of the value of the experience of our lives and the variety of spiritual gifts that we all have to offer. (It also reminded me of the mantra of the former Mutual Ministry Committee of Kootenay Presbytery, "Every congregation has within itself the ability to do ministry.")

A few days after the planning meeting I was reading Barbara Brown Taylor's latest book, An Altar In The World, and was taken with one of her quotes. Taylor says, "No one longs for what he or she already has, and yet the accumulated insight of those wise about the spiritual life suggests that the reason so many of us cannot see the red X that marks the spot is because we are standing on it. The treasure we seek requires no lengthy expedition, no expensive equipment , no superior aptitude or special company. All we lack is the willingness to imagine that we already have everything we need. The only thing missing is our consent to be where we are." (Introduction xiv-xv)

As imperfect human beings we often believe that we don't have much to offer or we look to others, who we think are wiser or more capable, to do the important work that needs to be done in our world. The Sufi poet, Rumi, put it this way, "You carry a basket full of bread on your head and yet you go door to door asking for crusts". And at the 2008 Epiphany Explorations symposium, John Dominic Crossan paraphrased Jesus by saying, "The Kingdom of God is already present. You've been waiting for God and God has been waiting for you, that's why nothing is happening."

Last weekend, as some of you know, four of us from our church attended the 2009 Western Women's Conference at Naramata Centre. The two keynote speakers were former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Flora MacDonald, and former leader of the Iona Community, Kathy Galloway. In their own ways, Flora and Kathy, reinforced the idea that everyone has something to offer in their own way for the common good.

Flora MacDonald, who has been working with people in isolated rural communities in Afghanistan since the late 1990's, advises that not everyone needs to go to another country to be of service. She suggests starting with what you've got and what is needed locally and going from there. (Sounds a little bit like the gospel story)

Kathy Galloway, speaking to a small group about the work of the Iona Community, said that, "Everyone has their role and gifts to share and it is a great comfort and strength to know that no individual has to do it all." Kathy expressed a great deal of trust, and hope, in the power of individual and collective efforts for the common good.

In Kathy's experience, I don't know if this is true for Flora, a strong commitment to social justice is inspired and energized by Christian faith and practice.

The story of Jesus' life is powerful and inspirational and if we allow his story to permeate our lives, and become our story, we will begin to realize God's commonwealth in the actions of our lives. And it is inspiring and empowering to know there are a multitude of Christians, here and around the world, who by the power and conviction of their faith are committed to working for justice and the common good.

And so, as we celebrate Worldwide Communion, we remember that we are part of a story that is much bigger than ourselves. Our Christian story transcends any boundaries of language, culture or race. When we gather around the table of Jesus Christ, when we share bread made from wheat, corn, rice or whatever is the staple food of our society, we do so in communion with all members of the Body of Christ throughout the world. Together, we remember that Jesus welcomed all to join him at God's abundant table. We remember that he embodied God's love for the world and that he dedicated his life to serving others and to advocating for those whose voices were not heard or valued. In remembering we also dedicate our lives as Christ's disciples, seeking to follow his ways and live God's way of love and justice.

And so, on this day we gather, as Christians for 2,000 years have gathered, to share our story of faith, to remember and give thanks for the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and to be renewed and strengthened in our common vision. The sacrament of communion connects us to our past, embraces us in our present, and gives us hope for the future. With this in mind, I'll close with words of blessing from Keri Wehlander:

An invitation so unexpected,
a messenger so insistent,
we accepted, in spite of ourselves.
We arrive, and delight answers.
We are anointed with laughter
and clothed with wonder.
Joy is our banquet,
and mercy our song.
Every heart is fragranced
by a dazzling, holy love.
Spirits are bathed and bright,
Voices share glad tidings, good news.
We dance the steps of innocence and wisdom,
and love this life again.
These gifts, so unexpected,
a giver so insistent,
we accept, in spite of ourselves.

(Joy Is Our Banquet: Resources for Everyday Worship,
United Church Pub House, 1996, page 79-80)