There Is Enough

Friday, November 9, 2007 -- Week of Proper 26

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html

Audio Podcasts of today's "Morning Reflection" and those from the past week are available from http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id244.html (go to St. Paul's Home Page www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p 990)
Psalms 69:1-23(24-30)31-38 (morning) 73 (evening)
Ezra 7:27-28, 8:21-36
Revelation 15:1-8
Matthew 14:13-21

There is enough.

Jesus and the disciples go to a deserted place, but the eager crowd finds them nonetheless. And Jesus does what he is called to do -- he has compassion on them and heals their brokenness.

When evening comes, the disciples see only what is lacking. There isn't enough food, they tell Jesus. "You give them something to eat." All they have is five loaves and two fish. In a eucharistic act, Jesus takes, blesses, breaks and gives. "And all ate and were filled."

Stories of Jesus feeding multitudes are present in all four of our gospels. There are not many elements of the Jesus story that are repeated in each gospel. That Jesus fed multitudes was an important memory to the early Church.

Beside the obvious connection with the distinctive characteristic of Christian worship, the Eucharist, there is also the witness of a sacred tradition to feed the hungry. Every church I've ever served had some ministry of feeding.

What happened when multitudes were fed? I don't know, but whatever it was it had something to do with people caring for one another and offering food to others.

We live in a unique generation. We now have the wealth and resources, the food and the technical ability to distribute food so that it is possible to eliminate hunger and feed every person on the planet. All we lack is the commitment, the generosity and the will to make that happen.

We can wipe out extreme poverty around the globe. We have the wealth and the know-how. We need the willingness and cooperation to make it happen.

There is plenty. We no longer have to look around and say "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." We've got enough food for everyone. God give us the willingness to obey Jesus' commandment, "You give them something to eat."

Lowell
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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

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worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.