The Very Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson
A tourist was introduced to an Indian in New Mexico who was said to have a perfect memory. Skeptical, the tourist asked, “What did you have for breakfast on September 10, 1998?” The Indian answered, “Eggs.” The man scoffed, “Everyone eats eggs for breakfast. He’s a phony.”
Thirteen years later the traveler’s train stopped again in the small New Mexico town, and he saw the same Indian sitting on the train platform. The tourist went up and said jovially, “How!” The Indian answered, “Scrambled.”
I’m back! Our group of 16 pilgrims returned from the Holy Land on the 18th of June and a couple of days later Linda and I left for our vacation in the Northeast United States. After being gone for six weeks and having had some wonderful experiences away, it is still even more wonderful to return home and to be with you once again.
While we were gone, we were never far away because technology makes it possible for us to stay very connected. We were always well aware of what was going on here in our absence, and everything that you were going through was always close to our hearts and a part of our prayers.
I wish to thank publicly my excellent staff for the wonderful job that they did in my absence, especially in the recent tragic death of Quincy Pollard. I thank all of you for the way you have surrounded that family with the love of our risen Lord.
Our trip to the Holy Land included a few days in the region around the Sea of Galilee. While there, we visited a place called Tabgha believed from ancient times to be the place where the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes took place. There is a monastery on that site where sits a small stone chapel, built only in 1982, but which is a reconstruction of a 5th-century Byzantine era church. A small portion of that church actually dates back to the fifth century. On the floor in front of the altar, also dating back to the fifth century, is a mosaic depicting two fish flanking a wicker basket filled with a few loaves, in reference to what happened there. Even if you have not been to the Holy Land, you have probably seen depictions of this work of art in photographs and pottery. It’s a familiar icon of the Holy Land.
I have known of this miracle all of my life, but actually seeing the place where it may have occurred literally gives it a whole new dimension and it was quite a moving experience for most, if not all, of us.
Word of Jesus’ miraculous healings had spread throughout the region. Thousands of people had followed him to this place. St. John tells us there were 5000 men, and we assume women and children were present as well. Jesus knows the crowd would be hungry, and that their ability to absorb what he had to say would be hampered by their growling stomachs, so he asks Philip what the plan would be to meet this physical need. Philip answers that it would take a tremendous amount of money simply to provide enough bread for everyone. Andrew, perhaps sensing that Jesus could somehow do something with even a very little, said that there was a lad present who had five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus had the disciples have the crowd sit down, he took the loaves and fishes, gave thanks, and distributed them to the people. Miraculously, there was enough to feed everyone and after all had eaten their fill there were 12 baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left over.
There are some, who find it difficult to believe in anything supernatural, who believe that this was really a miracle of sharing. They believe that people had really come with ample food and through the emotion of the moment were lead to share what they had, ending up with plenty left over. Yet this was clearly not what the evangelists experienced in reporting the miracle. The miracle was a sign of the power of Jesus to bring abundance out of the meager gift of a small boy. For the record, that’s what I believe.
Furthermore, throughout the ages the Church has seen in this miracle a prefiguring of the Holy Eucharist. The same actions which our Lord used at the Last Supper are present in this miracle. The time of the Passover is near. Jesus takes the bread and fishes, gives thanks, and distributes them to the people, just as at every mass the celebrant recalls how Jesus took the bread and wine, gave thanks, and distributed his Body and Blood.
Have you ever noticed how so many important things in life are accompanied by the physical act of eating? Birthdays, anniversaries, receptions after various public events, visits with friends, all include eating. Many a business deal is done over lunch. Of course, the most important act of worship is the Holy Eucharist, the climax of which is the partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ.
A strong case could be made that the most important thing a family can do together is sit down daily for the family supper. It’s a daily reuniting of the family, the time when couples and families can catch up on what has happened during the day. It is the most likely place where the values of the family are passed from one generation to another.
Yet, there is a lot of evidence that that important family time has broken down over the last several decades. People eat in silence as they watch the news on television or they take their meals at different times because of busy schedules. Even when eating together in restaurants, dinner companions are silent in each other’s presence as they look at their iPhones.
The problem is not that most of us don’t have enough to eat, but that the important things that used to happen during family meals are not taking place. It would be an oversimplification to suggest that the breakdown of family life in this country is due to our not eating dinner together in a meaningful way, but that is a part of it. Relationships need to be fed, and if they are not fed they deteriorate.
Just as our Lord took a small gift of five loaves and two fishes and fed a crowd of 5000, he can take those brief moments of sharing at a meal and build beautiful, strong, and enduring relationships. Take time truly to be with others when you break bread together. Allow God not only to bless your food, but also your relationships.
Sermon preached by the Very Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson
The Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota Florida
9th Sunday after Pentecost
26 July 2015