Questions

John 6:24-35     Ordinary Time ~ Lectionary 18

 

Beginning with 5 barley loaves and 2 fish, Jesus fed all of them, more than five thousand people.  They ate until they were satisfied, we are told, and there were leftovers to boot. When daylight came, the people went looking for Jesus. Where could he have gone? His disciples were missing, too!  Soon, they decided to expand their search. The crowds got into boats and sailed to the other side of the sea where they finally found Jesus.

In their encounter, we hear the questions that that they had—lots of questions.

Rabbi, when did you come here?

What must we do to perform the works of God?

What sign are you going to give us?

What works are you performing?

Reading this passage brings up questions I have of Jesus, too. Where are you when I can’t find you?  Why do I feel empty and hungry sometimes? How can you love me?  Don’t I have to do something?  How can I be sure? What sign are you going to give me? My questions are not so different than those of the people following Jesus.

My hope is that you also have questions.  To have all the answers about God is certainty, not faith.  “Faith,” writes one scholar, “can take us to holy realms certainty can never reach.”[1]  Jesus doesn’t ask us for certainty, or intellectual assent.  Jesus wants a relationship.  What Jesus tells us is “Follow me.  Believe in me.” Jesus calls us to trust him.

After the more than 5,000 people ate their fill, they hunted Jesus down. When they found him, Jesus responded to them, “You are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” This sounds like an accusation, and it strikes me hard.  Does it you, too? It prompts me to ask myself why I am I looking for Jesus. Why are you looking for Jesus?  What do we want from him?  What do we expect from Jesus?  When our physical being is well-cared for, and satisfied, for what are we hungering?  What will satisfy the longing that is deep in our soul?  What are the things we do that work toward that?

Where are we spending our time and our energy?  Watching movies, FaceBook, the internet?  Shopping?  The latest technology, or more clothes, or more books may bring a few moments of happiness. Eating cookies, especially with chocolate and nuts in them, is filling.  But do these things that seem to consume us really satisfy our deep hunger? Do they sustain us, especially when we are stricken with grief, or illness? Can we turn to them when we feel disappointed, or angry, alone or lost?

Are we hungry?  For what?  As of this morning, I have a desire to be understood.  I want to love, and to be loved.  My hunger is to have purpose, and to make a difference, even if it is in the life of one person.  I want to engage the world God created.  My desire is for joy that radiates from my very being.  I want to help one person to love God as deeply as I do. What are you hungry for?  What is on your list?

Jesus tells us that he is bread—our very basic food for nourishment.  He says, I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.  Jesus invites us to feast on him, –to consume him so that we are consumed by him. This passionate relationship is what will satisfy our hunger and thirst.  Though I know this, I sometimes forget, or worse.  That’s usually the time when I go shopping on-line or grab a cookie.

One of my favorite writers has similar issues.  She writes:

Do I really trust that Jesus is my bread?  My essential sustenance?  Very often, the answer is no.  Very often, Jesus is an abstraction.  A creed. A set of Sunday rituals I consider pleasant but optional.  Why?  Because I don’t come to him ravenous.  I don’t recognize my daily, hourly dependence on his generosity.  In short, I just plain don’t expect to be fed by him.  Instead, I hide my hunger, because I’m ashamed to want and need so much.[2]

The people Jesus invited to sit down on the lush green pasture so that he could feed them were in need of healing. There was the father who argued constantly with his teenage son, and the mother who found herself feeling inadequate every time her new baby cried.  The one who house was packed to the brim with stuff was there, along with the one who lied on a job application, and the one who drank a bit too much in the evenings. They were broken people, just like you and me.  They were following Jesus.  They had questions, but also a deep desire to be made whole by Jesus’ love, just as we do. Jesus healed them. He fed them. He gave them himself, just as they were, no questions asked.  Jesus invites us to come to the table, just as we are, where there is healing, and love, no questions asked.

In a moment, we will sing our Hymn of the Day, assuring us that Jesus invites to the table, providing bread that fills that empty place inside of us.  Jesus, a feast of love offered to us, our hope of everlasting life.  In our singing, may we accept Jesus’ invitation.  After the hymn of the day, we confess our faith.  God the source of our being and the goal of all our longing, God, embodied in a human life, God, life-giving Spirit, we believe and trust in you.  In our speaking, may we be strengthened.  In consuming the body and blood of Christ, may we become consumed.

 

~Pastor Cheryl Ann Griffin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1]Barnes, Craig M.  “Uncertain and Faithful.”  Christian Century, July 28, 2018.

[2]Thomas, Debie. “Bread of Heaven.” Journey with Jesus. Accessed July 30, 2018.  www.journeywithjesus.net/lectionary-essays/current-essay.  I give thanks for her perspective on this text.

Author: Pastor Cheryl Griffin

Pastor Cheryl Ann Griffin thinks God has a sense of humor for leading her into ministry, but can’t imagine doing anything else! Pastor Griffin received her BA degree from the College of William and Mary. She worked as an accountant before God led her to the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, where she received her Master of Divinity degree. In the Virginia Synod, Pastor Griffin is a member of the Ministerium Team and frequently leads small groups at synod youth events. She is also a representative to the VA Synod Council.

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