Compassion Embodied

Here are some thoughts on this Sunday's gospel that were sent to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. What are your thoughts?

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

Why did Jesus go off by himself? Was it because he was mourning the death of John the Baptist? That's likely. After all, John was his cousin and Jesus had a great deal of respect for John in his role as the forerunner to his ministry (check out Matthew 11:11). Was it because Jesus was trying to lay low since he was a marked man? Remember later when Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead? That's in the very next chapter! "At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; ² and he said to his servants, 'This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason, these powers are at work in him.' ³ For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife" (Matthew 14:1-3).  With all of this going on, was he just needed some time alone to pray and commune with his Father? I think it's a bit of all of these things.

Jesus had a lot on his mind and was carrying around the weight of sorrow, and yet he was not distracted from the needs of the crowd like we may have been. But what does Jesus do? He has compassion for them, spending the day healing the sick. As Pastor Rob Myallis points out, "His gut is turning when he sees the crowds.  It is also worth noting that Jesus’ compassion does not simply signify feelings, but leads him into action, here, healing."

It gets dark early and quickly in the Holy Land, so the disciples were concerned about the crowd needing to get food plus they were way out in the boonies without even a convenience store in sight. 

I love Jesus' response concerning the problem. He tells the disciples, "you give them something to eat” (v. 16). Can you imagine what they must have thought? "Us? You want us to feed these people? Jesus, are you dreaming?" They said, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish” (v. 17). So, seeing the disciples were unable to feed the people, Jesus said, “Bring them here to me” (v. 18). What/who is the "them?" Is it the bread and fish or is it the people? What do you think?

Finally, we get to the miracle of the feeding and it sounds a bit like Holy Communion. Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it (to the disciples to distribute). In the early church, communion was part of a meal. One of my seminary professors used to tell us repeatedly, "It's a real meal!" Jesus fed the people and there were leftovers besides! Jesus embodies compassion and generosity.

The disciples did end up feeding the people. After all, Jesus gave them the food to distribute. And how many were fed? 5,000 households. 5,000 men plus women and children, who were always counted last. Matthew does not leave out the women and children, for Jesus' compassion extended to them as well. How's our compassion given the needs all around us from COVID 19 to racism to hungry people in our community? Let us connect actions to our compassion, just as Jesus did.