St. Paul Hamel Homily for Trinity Seven 07/14/2013

St Paul Lutheran Church

The 7th Sunday after Trinity

July 13/14, 2013+

St. Mark 8:1-9

In Nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

If you are going on a trip, you make some plans, especially if that trip is an overnight adventure. It is quite foolish not to do so. About 4000 people did this, but they weren’t foolish at all, because their plan consisted of following and listening to Jesus. In their fervor to be near him and to hear him, they ran right out of food. Now this would make for some miserable people, hungry and in a place that is desolate, nothing around to pick or to purchase. But if Jesus is near, there is no desolation, but rather provision, fullness and satisfaction. And Jesus was near; He is near now. He looked on those people who were following him with compassion. While their bellies were aching for food, his belly was aching for them. “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.” He is near to you now, and with the same compassion he sees you and has compassion on you, the feeling right down to his guts.

The poor planning of those who were following and hearing Jesus not only moves him to compassion for them, but it gives him an opportunity to put his compassion in action in two different ways. One of course is the fact that he actually does something to help those who are hungry, he feeds them. But more importantly for his disciples, it provides him opportunity to teach them about Himself, that He is the one who has compassion and provides what is needed. First, he lets them in on what is in his mind, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” In response the disciples say, "How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?" Remember, for those in need, there is no desolate place when Jesus is near. This is what they don’t get, and it is what you don’t get too. Living by the eyes, seeing the desolation that can be in your life it is hard not to believe that’s all there is. The disciples looked with their eyes, even though they heard that Jesus had compassion, they didn’t think that his compassion alone could cut it, could come through for the hunger of so many. “How can one feed this people with bread here in this desolate place.” Well one can if he is God; and He is.

So he asks them how many loaves, “Seven”. He has them all sit down. He gives thanks, he breaks the loaves and has the disciples distribute, a few fish too the same way, with a blessing. Everyone ate, everyone was satisfied, full. Jesus is near, he is compassionate, he provides. Do you not know that this is always what he how he is and what he does, he is always compassionate and he always provides. The disciples could not see what Jesus could do, so he did it. Our eyes see need, and our bellies can feel it too, and so can our empty hearts, hungering for healing of spirit, thirsty for rest and peace, starving for joy, famished without his love. But he gives it. Out of his great compassion he gives what you need, his life into death. And you receive this, the bread of heaven, the food of everlasting life, His very body. This is the food that brings health and healing to bodies and souls that starve for righteousness, to weak, frail, poor sinners. On the night he was betrayed he took bread, and gave it to his disciples saying, “This is my body given for you.” He gave his body into death on a cross, and you receive his very body here, the food that gives life. You are on the pilgrimage of this life, a trip, a journey, that will have as its end your down death. But here by Jesus compassion, is the food that gives victory over death itself. His very body that was given on the cross and the drink that takes away your sin, the sacred blood that was poured out into death. Sacred blood, that now gives you life.

The compassion of Jesus from before there was time led him to reveal himself to his disciples and to you by the death of his cross to be all for you. He is near in preaching to draw you to Himself that he would feed you with the bread of life. Taking and eating, with faith in his words you have his compassion, victory over death, the forgiveness of your sins and you are filled up with peace and joy and at the last when he comes will taste even more of a feast with him that will have no end.

Amen.