There is No Need
When you get bad news, and I mean bad news, like someone close to you is sick or has died, what is your instinct? We would all have some kind of reaction. One might go into shock and begin to cry or sob right there on the spot. One might jump into action, calling others to share the news, or making travel plans to get to wherever they feel they need to be, to provide support and receive support. One might sink into a denial, lying to themselves, pretending nothing happened, nothing has changed. However, MOST, no matter the initial reaction, need a moment for the information to sink in and be alone.
In the Gospel reading, (Matthew 14:13-21) Jesus gets word that his cousin, John the Baptist is dead. Of course in Jesus’ time, there were no cell phones or texting so it probably took a few days for him to get the message. Also, the way in which John the Baptist died was unusual, by beheading. This terrible news was something Jesus needed to process and grieve so he took off in a boat to be alone.
Instead, people wanted to be with Jesus. Some probably heard Jesus was near and they wanted him to heal themselves or loved ones. Some might have also heard of John’s death and wanted to let Jesus know they were there to give him comfort. Regardless of the reason, the people came and Jesus put his own agenda aside in order to serve the crowd gathered.
This is the nature of Jesus. As with the ultimate sacrifice of death on a cross, Jesus repeatedly surrenders his needs and put the needs of others first. This is hospitality in it’s greatest form.
When my family travels and we choose to stay in a hotel, there are comforts of home we expect such as a clean bathroom, a comfortable bed and a fridge. If we stay in a rental home, we look for similar comforts and are grateful when our hosts provide little extras, like suggestions on local eateries or a few staple items in the cabinets. The ultimate is when we visit family and are cared for with extreme love. Even if it is a last minute trip, extra time is put into making sure our needs are met.
So in the case of the crowds ascending upon Jesus, he gave them what they needed. He healed the sick and spent time with them. Then as time does, it went by quickly and it was soon dinner time. The Disciples wanted to send everyone away, but Jesus, said, no. He insisted they stay.
One of my favorite memories of my family is when my parents, my brother and his family and my family ended up at our house in the early evening. There had been no plans for a meal, but we were all there and having a good time, so my husband and I scrounged the fridge and provided a feast. We all sat around the deck, talking and laughing, while we prepared small plates of food. No one went away hungry and even though we hadn’t planned on feeding a dozen people, we still had plenty of food left.
This is what happened in the scripture too. The crowd didn’t want to end the evening, so instead, Jesus took what they had, blessed it and they had more than enough. This is how God works. He says, I just need you to show up and I’ll provide for your needs. God is the ultimate host.
