This morning, the gospel story we read takes place a low point in Jesus’ ministry. Just before this takes place, Jesus had returned to visit his hometown…but instead of being welcomed like he was in other places … instead of crowds following him, wanting to hear his teaching, hoping for healing, hungry for grace…he was met with skepticism and derision. Jesus came to the synagogue in Nazareth with his same message of God’s kingdom and God’s compassion he had been sharing in other places…but in the place he grew up, his neighbors were just resentful as if he thought he was better than them somehow. They basically responded with “who do you think you are? You’re nothing special!” We know your family…your dad, your mom, your brothers and sisters…don’t try to lord over us like you’re some big shot.” So Jesus left, disappointed and discouraged.
And then, right after that he gets word that his cousin, John…who also was preaching and teaching and trying to encourage people to a different way of living in this world….he gets word that John had been killed by Herod at one of Herod’s lavish over the top banquets. And not only had be been killed….his head was chopped off as basically a party favor for his daughter. It was a sickening evil spectacle…one of those twisted acts of people who have an excess of power and money, and see other people as commodities to be used, instead of beloved brothers and sisters. And those same kind of things happen today….we’ve heard enough about Epstein island these days to know that’s true. So Jesus has been reminded..pretty starkly…of what God’s kingdom…God’s compassion is up against in this world. And understandably, he wants to withdraw for a while. Take a break. Catch his breath. Pray.
But the crowds do not let up. And Jesus has compassion on them again…and cares for them even while he is hurting himself. Matt’s had us talking about Empathy lately…at our Brewed theology this month…and again after church today…and empathy is being willing to feel what others might be going through. It is what Herod lacks…and Jesus embodies. And compassion…well, compassion puts our empathy to work. It’s empathy in action. Jesus has compassion on the crowds and heals them. But then when it gets late, the disciples make a reasonable suggestion — “Jesus, the crowds are getting hungry. Tell them it’s time to move on…there are too many of them for us to deal with. We don’t have the resources. I mean…there are thousands of them….5000 men alone, not counting the women and the children.” Which, just as a side note, is totally a disciples’ kind of move isn’t it? Not counting the women and children. Jesus has to remind them over and over and over again that he counts women and children. When the disciples try to send the children away, Jesus says…let them come to me. When the disciples ignore what the women have to say as so much idle talk…Jesus makes sure he greets the women first when he is resurrected.
Anyway, the disciples reasonably suggest Jesus send the huge crowd away to find food. It’s been a rough week. They’ve all been through it. They were discouraged in Nazareth too. They are scared by what happened to John too. They are tired. They’ve done enough. But Jesus’ response? You feed them. Yep…you…with your measly five loaves and two fish…even though you’re struggling…you feed them. You have compassion on them as well.
I have to say, I understand the disciples here. Any of you feel the same? Any of you look at the overwhelming need of the crowds around us…and want to just point people down the road? Somebody else can help. I mean…what can we do with our limited resources? What can we do as more and more people are homeless and living on the streets? What can we do as food prices continue to climb and families are struggling to buy groceries? Or have to decide whether to buy groceries, fill the gas tank or pay the electric bill? I think a lot of us have a tendency, in the face of so much need, to just freeze…I know I do…it’s too much. It’s intimidating. We feel their pain, we have empathy…but we don’t want to get involved because we don’t have enough energy. It’s scary to start, because we might get in over our heads. Compassion, empathy in action….is hard.
But, as I told my kids over and over when they were little. You can do hard things. We can do hard things. We can.
And I know that, because I see people doing those hard things all around me. Reminding me that it can be done. People, who like the disciples…hear Jesus say “You feed them”…and, even when they’re tired, even when they’re not sure that they will succeed… they dive right in with what they’ve got. Trusting that somehow it will work out. That the resources will appear. That they will have enough.
I got a call from Courtney Greenwalt this week. Some of you may know her and her husband Jacob. They were members of St. George. Courtney and Jacob and their kids moved to St. Louis earlier this year…but it was a joy and privilege to know them when they were here. Courtney was one of those people who did hard things. Courtney looked at the overwhelming need of the homeless in our community…and said “ok Jesus”…we’ll give it what we’ve got. And so she and Jacob would walk out to camps and check on people. They started the warming and cooling centers at St. George. They were tired and busy, raising 4 kids…working…but they did it anyway. And it was awesome. Their passion ignited other people’s passion. Their courage gave other people courage. Resources came in. People volunteered.
Was it perfect? No. Messy? Sometimes. Challenging? You bet. But it was important. And it was good. It was even fun sometimes. And it felt right, even when it was hard. That’s what Compassion looks like. Empathy in action. And it made a difference.
Jenn Reida is another one of those people…who sees the need and says…ok, God. Let’s do this. At the FISH pantry, they served more people this past month than they ever have. EVER. People are struggling right now. The crowds are hungry these days and the need is overwhelming. I look at it and feel paralyzed. I don’t have the foggiest idea where to start, and I just want to be able to send them off to be someone else’s problem. But Jenn…holy smokes…Jenn makes miracles happen. She finds resources, builds connections, and steps out with courage because someone needs to. Someone needs to get food on people’s tables. Even if it’s just 5 loaves and two fish. Even if it’s just tuna and white bread. And working together we can actually make it happen. And for all of you that volunteer or fill your green bags …you know how important and good and even fun it can be at times. We trust that God’s doing it with us….that God is blessing the loaves and that there will be enough. And it makes a difference. People eat.
And then there’s Jackie — in the office at Faith. Jackie who gets all our Helping Hands calls. And she is more than aware of our limited resources….but she takes time to listen. She cares. And then, she so often finds ways to make our limited resources stretch. She makes connections and finds options for people…She doesn’t just throw up her hands at the overwhelming need…she has compassion. And it makes a difference.
Having compassion…trusting God to make our loaves and fishes miraculously stretch…isn’t easy. It’s not. Sometimes, we are tired….we’re feeling stretched. We’re overwhelmed. We’re hurting. And sometimes…it’s totally okay to need to check out for a bit. That’s what Jesus was trying to do after all. But then we are called to step out again in faith….to feed the hungry crowds with our measly 5 loaves and 2 fish and trust in the goodness of God, the goodness of our neighbors. Trust that we can do hard things. Trust that we are not alone.
It might be messy and imperfect…but it is important and it makes a difference. And it is how God’s love takes shape in the world.
I don’t have to be enough…we don’t have to be enough…all by ourselves. Instead, we can trust that God is enough and so we don’t have to be afraid.
That’s the good news this morning. God is enough. And so we don’t have to be overwhelmed or frightened by the need around us. We can trust that God can use what we are, what we have…and it will be good. I know it seems scary, but may God give us courage to show compassion. Amen.
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