Feed 'Em Yourself

June 19, 2016

Today’s first reading caught my attention,

“Thus says the LORD:

I will pour out on the house of David

and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem

a spirit of grace and petition;

and they shall look on him whom they have pierced,

and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son,

and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn . . .

On that day there shall be open to the house of David

and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness.” Zach 12: 10-11; 13:1

I love the book of Zachariah. This Old Testament prophecy speaks to the events that follow Our Lord’s death and it speaks to the out powering of the Holy Spirit in the early days of the Church. It also speaks to the Holy Spirit's role as He pours out blessings on The Church, His People, and the World. It should inspire us today. It speaks to our response as the people of God. There are a few bible stories that I have been thinking about; specifically, the stories of the feeding of the 5,000 and the question of the restoration of God’s Kingdom. *

The Feeding of the 5,000

After the death of John the Baptist, Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place but the crowds found out and followed Him. When Jesus saw the people, He had pity on them. He cured the sick and taught them. It was a day the disciples thought was going to be different. Maybe they thought they were taking the day off. Maybe they were excited to be alone with Jesus. They had other plans . . .

It became evening and the disciples said, “enough is enough.” In an effort to make things “better”, better for themselves, better for Jesus, better for the people, his friends approached Him and said,

“This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages

and buy food for themselves.” Mat 14: 13-21

My humble translation – Be reasonable, Jesus. You have served enough today. Please, send these people away to take care of themselves. Jesus looks at them and says simply, “Feed them yourselves.”

WHAT? FEED THEM YOURSELVES?!

Is this what the disciples thought? Another Gospel has the disciples responding, “not with a year’s wages could one provide enough food to feed such a crowd.” Feed them yourselves - yea right. Then Jesus takes the donation of a small boy, a child, a child who was willing to give everything, a child who was not thinking about his needs. Jesus takes his bread, his fish and blesses them, multiplies them and send the apostles out to distribute what wasn’t possible. How did they feel, passing out Jesus’ blessings? Did they say “Your welcome.” 5,000 times. Did they begin to understand or did they stand back and wonder.

Ok, next story - The Ascension of Our Lord

The Apostles have been through a lot. They mourned His Death. They grieved their lack of courage, their denial, and their brokenness in the face of the Jesus’ arrest, torture and death. They spent time considering and perhaps questioning everything they had come to believe about Jesus. Just when they were ready to go back to their old way of life, “Where did I put that net?” Jesus visits them. It had to have been a roller coaster of emotions for 40 Days. The Apostles have seen so much and yet they have no idea what is going to happen next. They still have their notions about how things a supposed to be. Before He ascended up to Heaven they asked Him,

“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

“Are you going to restore the Kingdom?” It was a good question. Did the Apostles think that the fight against evil was over and with a wave of His hand Jesus would restore Israel and sin would no longer reside in the hearts of men. Did they think that their lives would become easier? In today’s Gospel Reading Jesus says,

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself

and take up his cross daily and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Luke 9: 23-24

That’s today, tomorrow, and the next day. Was Jesus’ answer, “Do it yourself”? Just like the feeding of the 5,000, the answer of restoring the Kingdom of God is the same – It’s our job and the job of The Church.

During the time of Christ, the people kept wondering, “Who is this man who forgives sins.” They argued, “What authority do you have to forgive sins.” Yet, time and time again, He demonstrated His power. In response, He said, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?” Luke 5:23. Jesus has the power over sin and death and He gave that power to the Apostles, the Early Church Fathers. The Catholic Church is the Body of Christ and we are here to do Christ’s Will. We are His Hands and His Feet. It is time to get to roll up our sleeves, get to work, and believe what the first reading's prophesy.

“On that day there shall be open to the house of David

and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness.”

Zechariah’s words speak to the gifts waiting to be given. The Church is The Fountain. We, as members of The Church, have a vital role in bringing Christ to the World. If you see a need, provide what you can. The Church in her wisdom even gave us a list.