Loaves and Fish for Desolate Places—Some Things The LORD Might Be Saying To Us in Gen 32:22-31; Ps 17:1-7, 16; Rom 9:1-5 and Mt 14:13-21 Today

By on August 2, 2020.

Source: GENEralities
Loaves and Fish for Desolate Places—Some Things The LORD Might Be Saying To Us in Gen 32:22-31; Ps 17:1-7, 16; Rom 9:1-5 and Mt 14:13-21 Today
Jesus,having heard of John the Baptist’s unjust execution, and saddened, no doubt, withdrew to “a desolate place by himself” (Mt14.13). Even Jesus needed to do that every now and then. So when we find ourselves in one, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, it is not foreign territory for him. He knows what desolate places are like and why we might be in them. Jacob experienced some lonely desolation of another kind in our Genesis reading—having to wrestle all night (Gen32.24), resulting in a hip knocked or twisted out of joint (v25), striving with God (v28) and ending up with a limp for the rest of his life (v31). The Psalmist continues on the desolate theme—heart tried, visited by night and tested (Ps17.3). And St Paul speaks truth in Christ and in desolation when he says “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart” (Ro9.1-2) over his kin who had not yet realized who Jesus was.  Desolate places all. Is there any help to be found for those in such desolate places in today’s readings? I appreciate the reminder that our God, according to the Psalmist, is the “Saviour of those who seek refuge” (Ps17.7) for a start. I am also encouraged by St Paul’s ringing declaration that Jesus is “God over all” (Ro9.5) and by Jesus’ compassion, his healing the sick and feeding the hungry in miraculous and wonderful ways in the Gospel (Mt14.14, 20-21). Such statements remind me of who Jesus is and what he can do and I am helped. Desolate places are not always solitary places. They can also be crowded. Too crowded. The disciples wanted Jesus to send the crowds away in today’s Gospel. I wonder if part of the reason for that was that they we reluctant to take responsibility for feeding them. Jesus was no help. “No need,” he said. “You give them something to eat” (Mt14.16). I am uncomfortably aware that Jesus may well be saying something like that to me, too. I’m surrounded by people who are also in desolate places— living prosperous, comfortable lives yet having no hope and living without God in the world (Eph2.12). Like the disciples, I have to confess that I am also tempted to ask Jesus to send them away so I don’t have to be bothered with them, but what if he’s saying to you and me, too, “You give them something to eat.” Gulp. Sigh. What are the loaves and fish I have to offer? What can I give to Jesus for him to look up to heaven and say a blessing over so that I can give them to the hungry folk in this comfortable, prosperous but desolate place where people don’t even know they are hungry?What ever it is, it has to come from and lead toJesus. 

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