GATHERING US UP

Even though I usually associate the story of Jesus’ feeding the large crowd with an admonition to feed the hungry, I focused recently on Jesus’ instructions “after all were satisfied to gather up the fragments left over so nothing may be lost.”

I often feel fragmented, detached, broken off. This happens especially when things don’t go as I planned or wanted, or when someone suggests a change in my routine. When I learned recently that we as a church family were considering a new Sunday worship schedule, for example, I felt resistant. At first, I couldn’t imagine any reason for any change. But our worship team has been considering this for years. We come to worship together to praise and glorify our Savior! We thank God together for His abundant grace! We come to forgive and be forgiven! Together we can certainly adjust to any new schedule.

In today’s reading, Jesus’ disciples had been overwhelmed by the 5,000 people gathered on the Galilee shore. Jesus remained focused on the challenge at hand and fed the entire crowd on a few fish and five loaves of bread. Then at his instruction, the disciples gathered the fragments and filled 12 baskets.

Like Jesus’ disciples, we get overwhelmed by increasingly large numbers of hungry, restless people. Yet we fill our tummies and throw away leftovers without thinking. We could feed hungry folks out of our abundance. Jesus, through us, can eliminate hunger and poverty today, if we do our part. We can be less greedy in our food consumption, share leftovers, and advocate for global policies of equitable food distribution.

First, let us gather together, united as a church family, become grounded in God’s Holy Word, be receptive of the Holy Spirit, come to worship not just to be fed or entertained but to be challenged and inspired to share the Good News joyfully.

Dear Lord, Help us to think beyond our set ways, our limited visions. Help us to gather one another up, so nothing and no one may be lost and that we will bring others to you with joy-filled hearts, tummies and souls. Amen.

— Ginny Johnson

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist