Gracious feeding in a world of hunger

Readings for Sunday July 31 2011, 7th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 13) include Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-7, 15 ; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21  


Most Australians do not even know 
the possibility of starvation 
We feel confident that someone will come to our aid, 
even if we have no food, no money, 
or no means to address these sort of problems. 
There are, of course, people elsewhere in the world 
who do face this sort of awful issue, 
and who will die because of lack of food. 
So we (the non starving) need to try and hear 
the story of the feeding of the 5000 
with something of the urgency for our lives, 
that food is for the starving.

All people hunger, 
but not necessarily for food. 
Some need self-assurance, 
others need healing 
all need love 
If we take this story 
and listen to it in this way

then we can hear some simple principles. 


Sit down and take time to address the situation 
The first step is to actually open yourself to the possibility of God’s aid 


Where are the ‘five loaves and the fish” 
We think we have nothing. 
but we almost always have the beginnings 


Where does God show us we can begin 
Allow ourselves to trust God 
and receive what God can do with the small beginning 
Our consumerist world says 
we want everything 
and we want it NOW! 


Can we trust God to give us all that we want, and more 
from (what we perceive) is the little that we have? 
But which in reality is an abundance

This week 
Where is God inviting me to feed on his abundant spiritual food? 
Where do I feel spiritual hunger? 
What do I bring to the table? 
Pray for grace to give God the opportunity to feed me with what I already possess, 
and to open myself to the possibility of life.

Lord, feed me with everything I need 

Give me grace to trust your generous hand