Isa. 52:1-12; Gal. 4:12-20; Mark 8:1-10

A familiar story comes to us today: the feeding of the four thousand.  There are many of these stories of the feeding of multitudes, and with them comes a lot of numbers: the numbers of loaves, baskets, and people are all different.  5,000 were fed with 5 loaves and 2 fish.  Now we have 7 loaves, 7 baskets, and 4,000 people, and we don’t even know how many fish.

For those who like symbolism and numerology, today’s reading becomes a sore disappointment.  We come to find out that the point of the story has nothing to do with numerology, but with grace.  The symbolism is indeterminate.  The point is that God feeds those in need – that Jesus came to satisfy the hungry – literally.

It doesn’t matter how many.  God can handle whatever, whoever, however many.

The fact is that abundance is all around us.  The miracle is in Jesus’ confidence.  He boldly moves forward by simply asking, “How many loaves do you have?”  He takes the seven loaves, gives thanks, breaks the bread, and gave it to them.

Notice that we have the same four verbs that we do at the Lord’s Supper.  Take, Offer thanks, Break, Give.  This is not only a story of abundance, but a foreshadowing of the great feeding that happens every Sunday.  The Church continues to re-enact this story of grace.  And we, like the crowds, are indeterminate.  4,000.  5,000.  It doesn’t really matter.  God feeds as many as show up.  It is not only spiritual food, but actual food, his own body.

This story also has to do with “being astounded.”  The miracle is not only in the feeding of these people, but the level of dumbfoundedness on everyone’s face.  The story before also saw the people being “astounded beyond measure.”  The profundity gets larger, as the miracle gets larger.  Then we have the story of the yeast, directly following today’s reading.  In other words, we are getting to the point where no one is understanding how or why or to what extent Jesus is doing these things.  This profundity carries us right to the cross.

The mystery is growing.  And so is the grace.  And we are going along for the ride.  See why I like Mark?

– Matt

Isa. 51:17-23; Gal. 4:1-11; Mark 7:24-37

Today is the quirky story of the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter being healed, as portrayed by one of the New Testament’s most gifted writers, Mark.

It is quirky because Jesus never meets the daughter whom he heals.  This is an exorcism from afar.  The other bizarre feature of this is the words that come out of Jesus’ mouth are almost seen as an insult or racial slur.  This woman, this Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin begs Jesus to heal her daughter.  His response?  “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”

It appears that her faith turns the tables.  “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

Who are the children?  Who are the dogs?  What is Jesus’ purpose in this strange statement?  I am convinced that Jesus was using this as a test.  Perhaps he was thinking, “I know how to get under her skin.  I will see what she is really made of here.”

Tests.  They are dreaded by high school students and college students alike.  There are tests to get us into the Army, into many jobs, get us out of high school.  Tests come and often serve to move us to the next level of learning or what have you.  Tests.

I hate tests.  But they are all around us.  Even when we are out of school the tests come, albeit in different ways.  So many aspects of life are test-like – job responsibility, marriage, having children.  Being in the church sometimes is a test – with the seemingly most abrasive people constantly thrust in our midst, perhaps at God’s direction to test us.  Very few experience the church as “one big happy family”.

It appears, from the Syrophoenician woman’s faith, that part of the test of this life includes standing up to injustice and racial inequalities.  She smartly puts her foot down, and from that her faith shines.  Jesus may well have been playing Devil’s advocate, impressed that this woman could hold her own.

I believe God is still testing us.

How do you see God testing us still?  Maybe testing you?  And how are we responding?  With faith and determination?

And what does God require of us, in this time and in this place?

-Matt