Rambling is Good for the Soul

4 Lent, Year B

So - What happened to those 12 baskets? Vote in the comments!

(This is the outline of the sermon given today. Most of the main points are there...)

4 Lent, Year B Christ Church, Winnetka March 26, 2006

One version of Jesus’ famous lunch
- 5000 hungry men and their families
- Miracle – Jesus fed them with 5 barley loaves and 2 fish
- Then there’s a ton leftover

Dad’s Lunches
- sandwich, fruit, veggies, chips, raisins/granola bar, milk money, dessert
- always too much – had to share with others
- my need was met, some leftover

God provides for our needs
- we have received gifts in abundance
o friends and family
o community and the desire to be in relationship with others
o material possessions
o life
- society and culture – often focuses on scarcity
o consumed by the scarcity that we miss the abundance of God
o feel this – didn’t plan well, so rushed (no time), something unexpected needs to be done with a house or a car
o trauma, tragedy – missing what we used to have
o my friend had been injured in a car accident and felt empty and alone and abandoned – stuck in grieving health and friends who had grown apart
- now, she can see how she was surrounded by God and by people who cared
- even in times when we feel that resources are scarce, we can reflect and see the overabundance that God has given to us
o in times of struggle, we can feel the support of those who love us
o we can be assured of God’s presence in our lives
- we feel God’s grace in our lives
- disciples – 5 loaves and 2 fish -
o realize that their baskets overflowing

What happened to those 12 baskets of leftovers?
- Maybe - disciples shared with even more people that they met that day
o Those who needed physical sustenance
- Disciples started to realize that they also were overflowing with God’s love
o Provide spiritual nourishment

- We also can take up what has been discarded and distribute to those in need
o rummage sale – providing great stuff for people at a great price
- proceeds – provides for many ministries around the area and world
o how do you distribute your excess to those in need?
o We can also think about those discarded by society
o in the abundance that God has given us, we can give to others
ß be it lunch bags or bread baskets, we can give food to the hungry
ß fight for justice for underemployed, those without health insurance, those suffering because society sees them as worthless or have no energy to fight
ß care for the orphans – help everyone find a loving family
ß help people in other countries stop dying from AIDS or Malaria or find ways to get them fresh water
- we also recognize the spiritual abundance – our souls flowing over from God’s love – we have to share this gift with others
o spiritual gifts – faith, hospitality, mercy, leadership, teaching
o share our stories of God’s love – to encourage others to see how God is working in our lives
- when we start feel that resources, gifts, or love are scarce, we come back to the community for support
o show up to church
o be encouraged by others’ faith stories
o check in with friends and support network

all come to the altar together – hungry to be filled with God’s abundance
Jesus is the bread of life
- Come to the altar today
- Jesus provides himself for us – so much that there is too much to fill us
- Be filled with God’s presence – share that with others

You may have a lunch bag that is overflowing with food, or a soul overflowing with God’s love – and perhaps both. Let us go share with the world who needs both physical sustenance and spiritual nourishment.

Posted by Heather Voss at March 26, 2006 10:02 PM