It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving and at the Parish Center things were humming. Two rows of turkeys, stuffed, seasoned, slathered with herb butter, bagged, and lying in pans, lined the length of the marble-green counter waiting their turn in the oven.
Marcus and Kristine systematically removed turkeys from the oven and loaded in fresh ones. The cooked turkeys rested on a separate counter for an appropriate interval before their carcasses were stripped of their succulent meat, which was transferred to metal pans for storage.
Thomas was shuttling donations of turkeys from the parking lot to the kitchen door in a gray pushcart. Marcus divided his time between cooking and helping Thomas carry the uncooked birds from the cart to a temporary storage location.
Every time Marcus thought he had emptied the cart it would reappear, replenished with turkeys. “Aren’t we ever going to run out?” Marcus asked Thomas. “It’s a cornucopia” smiled Thomas. “Or the miracle of the multiplication of the turkeys,” chuckled Marcus. Sunday afternoon came and went. Even as the winter California sun dipped below the horizon, the turkeys kept coming.
In Mark’s version of the “Feeding of the 5,000” (Mark 6:35-44), it is evening and the crowd, which has spent the day listening to Jesus preach, is famished. The disciples come to Jesus and ask him to send the people away so they can get something to eat.
Jesus’ answer is short and to the point: “You give them something to eat,” he says. But the disciples respond, “We don’t have enough.” Jesus reply is again succinct, “How many loaves do you have?” The disciples’ search produces five loaves and two fish. Jesus receives the bread, blesses it, breaks it, and distributes it. As it turns out, there was more than enough.
Like the disciples, we often ask God to send our problems away. We find ourselves asking God to change our circumstances rather than thanking Him for the abundance we already enjoy. How often do we hope someone else will handle the problems of the world, the community, or even our family?
“Someone ought to do something about that!” we say. “But not me,” we mutter quietly to ourselves. We subliminally respond, “We don’t have enough?”
“If [however] our entry into heaven required a letter of reference from the poor, would we be able to get one?” There are 1.02 billion hungry people in the world today. Every day
over 16,000 children will die from hunger, 1 every 5 seconds.
How can there not be enough? The combined net worth of the three richest people in the world is greater than the combined net worth of the 48 poorest nations, representing one quarter of the world’s population.
The real miracle of the “feeding of the 5,000” is God working through us when we think “we don’t have enough”. Marcus’ and Thomas’ turkeys didn’t appear by magic, but the Holy Spirit was definitely on duty that day. It is Jesus speaking to us in our heart of hearts and saying, “What do you have?” and our realizing that what we have is more than enough, and then acting upon that realization.
Come share in the miracle; not just now, but all year round. The poor are waiting out there with our recommendation letters.
Dear God: Remind me daily that I have more than enough.
“If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10
© 2009 and 2011 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.
“90 Second Stewardship” is a reflection on being a Christian Steward in a secular and sometimes harsh world. This reflection is written by James E. Carper, Director of Development at Southeast Ventura County YMCA's. All rights are reserved. You are welcome and encouraged to forward this e-mail to family and friends provided the”© 2011 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” is included along with this message. Organizations, whether for or non profit, are required to receive written approval before reproducing these reflections. If written approval is given the ”© 2011 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.
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