Pentecost 8
Matthew 14:13-21
Genesis 32:22-31
(prayer)
Walk-About Sermon - Limping
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Ø 1995’s The Usual Suspects: Roger “Verbil” Kint - the man with the plan.
Ø Jacob - always planning (scheming).
Ø How do I get what I want?
o Couldn’t be firstborn - so, on the heels of Esau;
o Soup for birthright;
o Masquerade blessing;
o Run away from Esau to uncle Laban;
o Cousin/wife Rachael, oops Leah; (just deserts)
o Only the spotted sheep and goats;
o Run away from Laban to Esau;
o Gifts (bribe) for Esau.
o Couldn’t be firstborn - so, on the heels of Esau;
o Soup for birthright;
o Masquerade blessing;
o Run away from Esau to uncle Laban;
o Cousin/wife Rachael, oops Leah; (just deserts)
o Only the spotted sheep and goats;
o Run away from Laban to Esau;
o Gifts (bribe) for Esau.
Ø Jacob always wanted his way.
Ø Wouldn’t even submit to a wrestling angel.
Ø Later, wouldn’t even give in to a drought - sent children to buy grain in Egypt (more on that over the next two weeks).
Ø Jacob is all about “the wants”. And so he was a master-planner.
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Ø People wanted to be with Jesus; to hear him, to experience wholeness.
Ø Didn’t plan ahead. No food.
Ø Jesus concerned with needs. Very quickly, Jesus hatched a plan. To the crowd, it appeared that, with no plan, it just happened.
Ø Exactly Why? How? Who knows? It just happened.
Ø When needs are met unexpectedly, called a miracle. We know they had enough because there were leftovers. Symbolically 12 baskets - representing the whole nation (12 tribes).
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Ø Needs versus Wants. Debate assumes clear division.
Ø Life is not so neat.
Ø Homeless; economically disadvantaged.
Ø Help or help yourself. Care or not care. Take or be responsible.
Ø Life is not so neat.
Ø Israel - Palestine.
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Ø We need to put our energy into plans based on needs - the common good (as the Apostle Paul called it - cf. 1Cor12).
Ø Not only fulfilling needs for others, but giving the good possibilities the space to grow.
Ø Some see temporary solutions as ineffective in long haul, so avoid becoming involved.
Ø Old parable about fish - give or teach - today or lifetime.
Ø Some refuse to give, but then won’t support teaching either.
Ø What we need is not to get everything we want - but to discover when enough is enough.
Ø Rock bottom? Rockets fired into neighbourhoods, dead children in schools, hospitals and UN compounds.
Ø It is enough to live in peace,
o with food in our belly,
o clothes on our back,
o shelter from the heat and cold and wet.
o and the opportunity to know compassion and love.
o with food in our belly,
o clothes on our back,
o shelter from the heat and cold and wet.
o and the opportunity to know compassion and love.
Ø It is just what we all deserve.
Let us pray:
God, when we are hungry, feed us with bread and fish for the journey. When we struggle, sustain us with words of wisdom and stories of hope. When we wrestle with unknown forces, touch us with companionship and love. Amen.
#194MV “Bread of Life
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