Sermon Matthew 14:13-21 August 6, 2023, Pr. Veronica Alvarez
Sermon Matthew 14:13-21 August 6, 2023, Pr. Veronica Alvarez
For the past several Sundays, our Gospel readings have been focused on Jesus’ parables as recorded by Matthew. Jesus used these parables to teach his followers about his vision of the kingdom of God. He begins each parable by saying, “The Kingdom of heaven is like,” and then proceeds to give a short, simple story, filled with memorable characters and striking action. These tales seem short and simple on the surface; but they hold hidden depths of meaning. That’s the way metaphors work: they reveal hidden truths by extending what we know about God, into something we don’t know yet.
In today’s Gospel, we turn from parables to miracles, with Matthew’s version of the feeding of the five thousand.
It is amazing how the word of God works, we can hear scriptures hundreds of times and receive a different message every time.
The Gospel begins with Jesus receiving the news about the murder of John the Baptist, His cousin, for whom he was very fond, and was deeply affected by the news. Jesus felt sad and hurt, and wanted to be alone to unburden his heart. So he looked for a boat and decided to withdraw to a solitary place, to meet his Father alone, in the intimacy of prayer. Jesus teaches us that the right attitude, when going through bad times, is to seek dialogue with God. God is our balance, our rock our peace. God is compassionate and is with us in times of distress.
However, the people found out where he was going, and followed him on the ground, so that when he arrived, he found a large crowd anxiously waiting for him, with their sick, their problems and their sufferings on their backs, Jesus felt compassion.
Jesus must have been frustrated in his intention to be alone. Despite his grief and need for solitude, He puts aside His own needs and feelings and decided to minister to them, teaching them and healing them, forgetting his own pain, his sadness and his intentions to be alone and quiet. There were people who needed him…
Jesus' empathy and compassion for others inspire us to imitate Him by reaching out to those who are hurting physically, emotionally, and spiritually, despite our own struggles.
We all have issues. However, we can sometimes set them aside to serve others. When we have a problem, many of us think it's the biggest and most important; we want everyone to know about it, to know about our suffering,
We don't realize that when we open ourselves to other people's grief, our own pain takes on a new perspective. It is not about ignoring our own pain, nor about giving up on ourselves, rather, it is about not making those feelings into absolute truths. Jesus first made room for his pain; he respected it. But later, when he got out of the boat, he wanted to make room for the pain of others.
The Gospel wants to teach us that, even if we are going through difficult times, we can still help others. Jesus did not say to the crowd that was looking for him, "Now is not a good time, I cannot help to you; come another day because I am sad, I am in mourning because they killed John." No. He put aside his grief, because he felt that those people were worse off than he was.
We live with "I have many problems" excuses for not helping. And that is probably true. But if we live thinking exclusively about our own problems, we will never be able to help anyone. If we wait for the inconveniences around us to go away before we can help, we will never help anyone. Because a new inconvenience will always arise. We can do as Jesus did: learn from time to time to put off what is troubling us, in order to take care of others, perhaps we will even discover that what afflicts us was not so bad. Afterall.
The disciples urged Jesus to send the people away so they could find food in nearby villages. Jesus said to them, “They do not need go away; YOU give them something to eat.”
“You give them something to eat” is the heart of this miracle. Jesus is saying those words to us today, just as clearly as he said them to his disciples
“You give them something to eat. You teach your neighbors how to pray. You send out missionaries to address the world’s aches and pains. You sing the hymns that praise God’s name. You give your money to further the mission of the church.” Usually, our first response is to look down and say, “We don’t have what it takes,” or “We don’t have the ability,” or “We don’t have the money.”
Jesus took what his disciples gave him, in this case, two fish and five loaves. After he thanked God, he broke what they had given him, and said, “Now, give it away.” He broke their gifts of bread. The disciples could no longer hold them, or keep them for themselves. Instead, they were broken, so that everybody could have a piece.
Like the disciples, we often find ourselves in a desolate place, surrounded by overwhelming needs. It may be the challenges of poverty, hunger, injustice, or loneliness that afflict those in our communities and beyond.
The world cries out for compassion, love, and grace and we might feel we are not enough, that we cannot do much. Today, Jesus encourages us not to turn away from these needs but to recognize them and respond with love and kindness. we have an opportunity to reach out and make a difference in the lives of others. Whether it's through simple acts of kindness, volunteering our time and resources like making and serving pancakes, or supporting charitable organizations like world hunger, we can be vessels of God's provision and love to those in need.
When faced with the enormity of the task before them, the disciples felt inadequate and limited by their resources. They could only see the scarcity of five loaves and two fish in the face of a multitude. Yet, Jesus revealed a profound truth: it is not about what we lack, but about what we have and are willing to offer.
Similarly, we often underestimate the power of our contributions, skills, and talents in fulfilling God's work.
We might think, "I don't have much to offer" or "My abilities are too insignificant." However, when we surrender our limited resources to Jesus, He multiplies them beyond our imagination. All it takes is a willing heart and a faith as small like a mustard seed that God can use our humble offerings to accomplish great things.
In response to the disciples' concern, Jesus said, "You give them something to eat." He didn't ask them to perform the miracle but to step out in faith and trust in God's provision. In this simple act of obedience, Jesus displayed His divine power by miraculously multiplying the loaves and fish to feed the multitude.
Likewise, Jesus invites us to trust in His abundant provision. When we face challenges and obstacles in our lives, we must not rely on our strength alone but on the power and grace of God. In times of uncertainty, let us remember that Jesus as the ultimate source of all blessings and provisions.
Strengthening our relationship with Him through prayer, reading Scripture, and attending worship services helps us stay connected to this source of spiritual nourishment. God is faithful and will provide for our needs according to His will. We are called to have faith, knowing that God's plans are higher than our understanding.
Besides providing physical nourishment, this miracle also carries a symbolic meaning. Jesus is the Bread of Life, and through this event, He teaches about the spiritual nourishment that He provides to those who follow Him. He satisfies the hunger of the crowd, just as He satisfies the spiritual hunger of those who believe in Him.
This event foreshadows the Last Supper, where Jesus again takes bread, blesses it, and gives it to His disciples as a symbol of His body (Matthew 26:26). This connection emphasizes the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and the spiritual sustenance provided through His death and resurrection.
Siblings in Christ. Jesus' compassion is boundless, His ability to multiply our offerings limitless, and His response to our faith unwavering.
In our daily lives, we must strive to imitate His compassion, trust in His divine providence, and have unwavering faith in His promises.
May this passage remind us to seek Christ's presence in our lives, and just as He fed the multitudes physically, may He also satisfy the hunger in our souls with His everlasting love and grace.
Let us go forth from this moment with strengthened faith, knowing that the One who performed this miraculous feast is the same God who walks beside us every step of our journey.
Amen.