Abundance
Commentary
The wise old preacher hobbled up to the pulpit and made an announcement to the congregation. "I have some good news and I have some bad news," the preacher said. "Our fund-raising efforts have been successful. The capital campaign will more than pay off the educational wing. We'll even have enough money for all new toys for the nursery. The good news is, right here in this sanctuary, we have more than enough money!"
Thrilled, the congregation grinned, excited about the new life, but then, grew worried. What was the bad news?
The preacher continued, "The bad news is that the money is still in your pockets."
I have always enjoyed this joke. The brief journey our wallets travel from our back pockets into our hands and then into the collection plate is the hardest journey of all. It is not a joke to know that we have plenty but in our unwillingness to share, we impoverish our life together as a community.
The common theme in our three lectionary readings for this Sunday is the importance of understanding our blessings, then having a willingness to share those blessings with others. In all our readings it is Jesus as the Messiah that becomes the most prominent blessing we can give to others.
In the gospel lesson it is mentioned that a fish was lifted up before the people. The Greek letters for the word fish are ichthus, which were the initials of the full title of Jesus that the church worshiped; that is Iesous Christos Theou Uios Soter meaning "Jesus Christ God's Son, Savior." Paul wanted the Jews to continue to affirm their Jewish heritage, but he desperately wanted them to accept Jesus as their Messiah. Jacob was to fulfill the promise of going into the Promised Land of Canaan, but first he had to accept the blessing of the new name of Israel. Matthew, as he reports of Jesus feeding the 5,000, declares that the abundance of God's blessing is for all people, of all nationalities, in all countries.
Grace operates on a theology of abundance. There is more than enough if you can make that journey from billfold to collection plate, both literally and figuratively. There is more than enough grace. Share what you have. Share with a glad and generous heart. There is an abundance of grace. There is an overflowing of mercy. There is a profusion of forgiveness.
Genesis 32:22-31
Jacob's encounter with a spirit, who is described as a man, took place on one of the two mounds where you can cross the Jabbok River into the Jordan Valley. The spirit wanted to prevent Jacob from crossing into the Promised Land, and thus came out in darkness to wrestle him into submission. The spirit could have been a representative of the Canaanite god who inhabited the land. Jacob prevailed and in doing so was able to secure a blessing. Jacob would now be called Israel, which means "He has striven with God," or "He has been saved by God." The word Israel has come to represent all the Hebrew people, thus the abundant blessing of God.
Romans 9:1-5
Paul is in anguish because the Jews will not accept Jesus as their Messiah. Paul recounts all the blessings the Jews have received as the chosen people. He does not dismiss these blessings, but authenticates them. But he is now preaching, almost pleading, with them to recognize Jesus. It is Paul's desire as a Jew and Pharisee to share the blessing he experienced on the road to Damascus.
Matthew 14:13-21
The story of the feeding of the 5,000 is reported in all four gospels. Each highlights the importance of this occasion. For Matthew the actual event is engulfed with symbolic meaning, all of which declare the blessing of God upon all people. That the blessing of God is abundant enough for everyone is seen in the number 5,000. A number that is representative of all people, of all nationalities, in all countries, who are able to receive the grace of God. The fish demonstrates that Christ is for all people. The loaf of bread and Jesus looking up into heaven then breaking the bread is symbolic of the Eucharist; the blessing received in the upper room is now available for all believers. When the meal was complete and there were leftovers confesses again the abundance of God's grace can never be completely expended.
Application
The sermon could center on no matter how difficult our lives are, God is present. For Jacob God was present at the river's edge. For Paul God was present on the road to Damascus. For the followers of Jesus God was present in the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Whatever situation we may find ourselves, God in his abundance will care for us. But like Jacob and Paul and those gathered on the hillside, we must believe.
An Alternate Application
Each lectionary reading is a story of sharing. Jacob shared the blessing that came with his new name of Israel. Paul shared the blessing of his transformation on the road to Damascus. The people gathered on the hillside shared their blessing of food with one another. The message is that as we have come to understand how God has blessed us, we must go forth and be a blessing unto others.
Thrilled, the congregation grinned, excited about the new life, but then, grew worried. What was the bad news?
The preacher continued, "The bad news is that the money is still in your pockets."
I have always enjoyed this joke. The brief journey our wallets travel from our back pockets into our hands and then into the collection plate is the hardest journey of all. It is not a joke to know that we have plenty but in our unwillingness to share, we impoverish our life together as a community.
The common theme in our three lectionary readings for this Sunday is the importance of understanding our blessings, then having a willingness to share those blessings with others. In all our readings it is Jesus as the Messiah that becomes the most prominent blessing we can give to others.
In the gospel lesson it is mentioned that a fish was lifted up before the people. The Greek letters for the word fish are ichthus, which were the initials of the full title of Jesus that the church worshiped; that is Iesous Christos Theou Uios Soter meaning "Jesus Christ God's Son, Savior." Paul wanted the Jews to continue to affirm their Jewish heritage, but he desperately wanted them to accept Jesus as their Messiah. Jacob was to fulfill the promise of going into the Promised Land of Canaan, but first he had to accept the blessing of the new name of Israel. Matthew, as he reports of Jesus feeding the 5,000, declares that the abundance of God's blessing is for all people, of all nationalities, in all countries.
Grace operates on a theology of abundance. There is more than enough if you can make that journey from billfold to collection plate, both literally and figuratively. There is more than enough grace. Share what you have. Share with a glad and generous heart. There is an abundance of grace. There is an overflowing of mercy. There is a profusion of forgiveness.
Genesis 32:22-31
Jacob's encounter with a spirit, who is described as a man, took place on one of the two mounds where you can cross the Jabbok River into the Jordan Valley. The spirit wanted to prevent Jacob from crossing into the Promised Land, and thus came out in darkness to wrestle him into submission. The spirit could have been a representative of the Canaanite god who inhabited the land. Jacob prevailed and in doing so was able to secure a blessing. Jacob would now be called Israel, which means "He has striven with God," or "He has been saved by God." The word Israel has come to represent all the Hebrew people, thus the abundant blessing of God.
Romans 9:1-5
Paul is in anguish because the Jews will not accept Jesus as their Messiah. Paul recounts all the blessings the Jews have received as the chosen people. He does not dismiss these blessings, but authenticates them. But he is now preaching, almost pleading, with them to recognize Jesus. It is Paul's desire as a Jew and Pharisee to share the blessing he experienced on the road to Damascus.
Matthew 14:13-21
The story of the feeding of the 5,000 is reported in all four gospels. Each highlights the importance of this occasion. For Matthew the actual event is engulfed with symbolic meaning, all of which declare the blessing of God upon all people. That the blessing of God is abundant enough for everyone is seen in the number 5,000. A number that is representative of all people, of all nationalities, in all countries, who are able to receive the grace of God. The fish demonstrates that Christ is for all people. The loaf of bread and Jesus looking up into heaven then breaking the bread is symbolic of the Eucharist; the blessing received in the upper room is now available for all believers. When the meal was complete and there were leftovers confesses again the abundance of God's grace can never be completely expended.
Application
The sermon could center on no matter how difficult our lives are, God is present. For Jacob God was present at the river's edge. For Paul God was present on the road to Damascus. For the followers of Jesus God was present in the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Whatever situation we may find ourselves, God in his abundance will care for us. But like Jacob and Paul and those gathered on the hillside, we must believe.
An Alternate Application
Each lectionary reading is a story of sharing. Jacob shared the blessing that came with his new name of Israel. Paul shared the blessing of his transformation on the road to Damascus. The people gathered on the hillside shared their blessing of food with one another. The message is that as we have come to understand how God has blessed us, we must go forth and be a blessing unto others.
