Pentecost 7

                                                  THERE’S ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE! 

                                                  Being a reflection on Mark 6: 30-46 

INTRODUCTION 

Last week I spoke on ‘Taking the Bible seriously ... but not literally’. One of the main points I made was this: the Gospel authors were writing theology not history. The disciples did not keep diaries and journals for later authors to take notes from! The ‘Jesus Story’ was passed on by word of mouth until it was eventually written down and what was written down was tailored for the various communities of faith who received the written documents. The events and the teachings of Jesus’ ministry were written in hindsight with his words and actions being open to interpretation by the early Jesus Movement. They were written to be of encouragement to the often faltering early faith communities throughout the Graeco-Roman world. 

That’s why there are variations between the Gospels and why some stories are included and others not; that’s why Aramaic words are explained in some Gospels and not in others. This approach takes a lot of the headache out of trying to make the different Gospels ‘fit together’ - they no longer have to! They were each written to service different communities of faith with differing needs. 

FEEDING THE CROWD OF FIVE THOUSAND AND FEEDING THE SOLITARY INNER ONE 

Last week I also quoted an evangelical author, Neil Broom, who wrote, ‘One must never assume that a literal rendering of Scripture is the only faithful interpretation.’ That’s especially helpful with today’s reading: feeding the five thousand. 

Actually this scripture passage has at least five sermons in it - but don’t worry - our liturgy only focusses on two of them today. One emphasis is the need for rest and rejuvenation: feeding the inner one. You will have noted that on either side of this ‘miracle story’ Jesus ensures that he - and the disciples - ‘come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ The hymns and the prayers today were chosen to assist that element. The preaching will highlight the other focus: the ‘miracle story’ - the feeding of the crowd. 

READING THE STORY The importance of this story to the early faith communities cannot be overemphasised - because all four Gospels mention it. (Matt 14: 13-22; Luke 9: 10-17; John 6: 1-17). Always take note when a story is recorded in all four Gospels because it happens so seldom.

Do you remember Marcus Borg’s three adjectives for interpreting scripture? I mentioned this last week: historical, metaphorical and sacramental understandings. 

Historical

For some the story is to be taken at face value, it is simply a miracle story. This is a literal interpretation. Some of us believe that; others of us have problems with it. Can you be a Christian and not have a literal interpretation of scripture - absolutely! Are there other ways of believing? Yes, undoubtedly. 

Metaphorical 

There are several ways of exploring this passage metaphorically, ie looking for the message within the text. Firstly, no Jew ever travelled without his food basket. This ensured that the food he ate would be kosher. (I use the word ‘he’ deliberately.) The passage this morning told of twelve baskets being filled at the end of the story - where did they come from? I venture to suggest they belonged to the twelve disciples. Furthermore it’s unlikely that everyone who followed Jesus that day was totally unprepared food-wise; but none would share what they had with others. In John’s Gospel this same story includes a naive and generous boy. (Remember the Sunday School story of the little boy with five loaves and two fishes?) Perhaps after his example, or in Mark’s story the owner of the loaves and fishes, everyone was prepared to share what they had...Perhaps the miracle of the loaves and fishes is that the presence of Jesus ‘turned a crowd of selfish men and women into a fellowship of sharers. It may be that this story represents the biggest miracle of all - one which changed not loaves and fishes, but men and women.’ (William Barclay). Ched Myers refers to this as ‘The Economy of Sharing’. 

Another metaphorical interpretation would be that a little bit goes a long way when it is placed in the hands of Jesus. Our meagre ‘loaves and fishes’ - our talents and gifts - when kept to ourselves will accomplish very little but when given to God the outcome is worthy of note. Church history is replete with stories of ordinary people who offered their gifts to God and through them God was able to accomplish ‘miracles’. 

Sacramental 

Interpreting scripture sacramentally is the means by which God is mediated to us. 

What do these words remind you of: ‘Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples...’? Yes, the celebration of the Eucharist/Communion. The words almost echo what is repeated in Mark 14:22. ‘While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take...”’. 

There are some commentators who believe that every meal written of in the Gospels is pointing toward the celebration of the Eucharist/Communion. When Jesus says, ‘Do this in remembrance of me’ what does that actually mean? It means that just as Jesus shared his life with all who crossed his path; just as Jesus ate with people whom society did not value; just as Jesus welcomed young and old, male and female, upper class and lower class - then ‘Do THIS in remembrance of me’. 

In the catacombs the inscriptions and drawings of the early church did not depict the ‘Last Supper’ a la da Vinci. Instead archaeology has shown that the image of loaves and fishes is the most prevalent picture depicted by those early faith communities. When Christians gathered they portrayed this by drawing loaves and fishes. 

The point at the end of the story, which remarks on the number of pieces left over, symbolizes that even for those of us who were not seated on the green grass of Palestine that day there is enough left over! Enough for everyone! Enough for you and me!

CONCLUSION 

‘Share what you have’; ‘a little bit goes a long way’; ‘there’s enough for everyone’. What way did today’s reading speak to you? Can you see how much richer and wider and expansive the scriptures are when they are let loose from their literalistic confines? 

And how does scripture ‘speak’ to you? How is God mediated to you through scripture? That is where the second focus of today comes in: ‘come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ On either side of this rich and multi-layered story is the necessity to ‘come away’. Because unless you do there will be no ‘share what you have’; no ‘a little bit goes a long way’; no ‘there’s enough for everyone’. Because your own basket will be empty. Selah, pause and consider. 

Books I found helpful: The Gospel According to Mark by Morna Hooker and Binding the Strong Man: a political reading of Mark’s story of Jesus by Ched Myers. They can be ordered through Epworth Books: NZ freephone 0800 755 355. Email: