St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Owings Mills MD
July 25, 2021
Year B, Proper 12: The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
2 Samuel 11:1-15
Psalm 14
Ephesians 3:14-21
John 6:1-21
Signs of God’s Abundance
Well, it’s been a long road, hasn’t it?
For St. Thomas’, it’s been just about two years since you said farewell to Malcolm Ellis and embarked on an in-between time filled with all sorts of unexpected – even unprecedented – challenges.
How fortunate we’ve been, that this church has been led so faithfully and so ably by our wardens, Tony and Jesse, and the vestry, and our hardworking and devoted staff, and so many of you who have stepped up to care for one another during a time of uncertainty, fear, loss, and also hope.
And, what a blessing to have had the care from clergy, who have been and are so much more than “supply priests.”
For Sue and me, it’s been just about a year since the summer evening we were sitting on the rectory porch back in Jersey City, when we began musing on what might be the next step for us – just about a year since we both thought that Baltimore might be the right place for us – just about a year since I sent an email to my friend and yours, Canon Chris McCloud, setting in motion a chain of events that has led us to this beautiful church, led me to this pulpit, this morning.
It’s been a long road,.
In fact, the other day one of our parishioners told me that everyone is so happy that we are finally here that I didn’t even have to preach this morning – that I could just stand here and you would all applaud.
That sounded kind of nice and I considered it, but decided I still better come up with something.
It’s been a long road, and I’m sure like many of you, when I reach a milestone or turning point in my life, I can’t help but look at all the twists and turns, the seeming coincidences and random chances that got me to this point.
For example, many of you know that my father has been an Orioles fan for as long as there have been Orioles, and some of my happiest childhood memories include trips from Jersey City down to Baltimore to see games at Memorial Stadium. I especially remember getting there early and waiting in the parking lot to meet players and get autographs. In that more innocent time there was no security in sight.
And, ever since those happy days, I’ve had a soft spot for Baltimore.
But, what if my father rooted for, say, the Cincinnati Reds? Would I now be rector of a church somewhere in southern Ohio?
We’ll never know!
It’s been a long road – and, along with looking back I’ve also been looking ahead – thinking about what God might have in mind for you and me here in this historic place – thinking and praying what kinds of ministries we might expand or begin.
In other churches where I’ve served, we’ve offered a monthly prayer service at a local nursing home.
It’s been very simple – some music, prayers, a Bible reading, a short homily, and anointing with Holy Oil for anyone who wanted it.
And, in my experience, almost everyone wanted it.
As you’d guess, many people in our nursing home congregation suffered from some form of dementia and during the service they would kind of fade in and out.
But, very often, they would snap to attention and join in singing some of the old hymns – especially “Amazing Grace” – and when we would say the Lord’s Prayer – and also when we would recite the 23rd Psalm in the traditional language:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; they rod and they staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
In today’s gospel lesson, we heard the story of one of Jesus’ greatest and most loved miracles – the Feeding of the Five Thousand – the “loaves and fishes.”
There is a lot going on here.
There are echoes of the manna from heaven that kept the Israelites alive while on their long road from slavery to freedom.
There are images that remind us of Holy Communion – the Bread of Life that we will get to receive in our bodies and our hearts right here in just a few minutes.
And, the way John tells the story, the Feeding of the Five Thousand is the 23rd Psalm come to life.
All of these people – all of these people hungry for blessing, hungry for healing, hungry for a decent meal – all of these hungry people are gathered on a green pasture, looking to Jesus and his friends for some good food.
My favorite moment in the story is when Jesus looks at all these hungry people and asks Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?”
Philip’s heart and stomach must have dropped, right?
Philip must have thought something like, “Uh, Lord, if you don’t know, how are we supposed to know? I mean, there is no way we could possibly have enough money – enough food – to feed everybody.”
But…there is this boy who has five loaves and two fish. It’s a start, I guess, right?
And, somehow, as always with Jesus, there is enough – there is more than enough.
It is a beautiful story, right?
A great miracle.
But, actually, John never uses the word “miracle.”
Instead, he calls the wonder works of Jesus “signs.”
And, in the case of today’s story what we have is a sign – a most powerful and vivid sign - of God’s abundance.
Signs of God’s abundance.
Now, I don’t know you well, yet, but I’m sure at least some of you are worriers like me – the kind of person whose mind immediately jumps to the worst case scenario – the kind of person, who, like the disciples, frets that there just won’t be enough.
We see that attitude in churches all the time, you know, when we mourn the fact that church attendance isn’t what it used to be, that there aren’t as many kids in Sunday School as in the good old days, and the list goes on and on.
These are real concerns, and a big part of my job is to worry about all of that and to work on turning around those trends.
But, we can’t let those worries keep us from seeing signs of God’s abundance all around us – and not just in a two thousand year old story of loaves and fishes.
There are signs of God’s abundance all around us.
For two years, you have seen signs of God’s abundance as this church has weathered the pandemic, a forced separation from each other, an economic rollercoaster, political instability, plus all the usual challenges of life.
Through it all, Jesus the Good Shepherd has provided all that you need, and more.
At each moment, God has provided good and faithful people who maybe felt they didn’t have enough to offer, who didn’t think they were the right ones for the job, who couldn’t always see the way forward, but who were willing to share their gifts with you, with us.
There are signs of God’s abundance all around us.
Months ago, when Sue and I first turned into the church driveway, we turned to each other and said something like, “Look how beautiful this place is!”
And, a few weeks ago when I brought my dad down with me he said pretty much the same thing, adding the photos that I had taken just didn’t do it justice.
And, as beautiful as this place is, I’ve already learned that the people are even more beautiful. The hospitality and generosity you have offered us have been just incredible.
Honestly, I never thought I’d be living and working in such a green pasture, but God is full of surprises.
And, although I’ve only lived here for a couple of days and still really need GPS to get anywhere, I am convinced that, just like two thousand years ago, there are many thousands of people all around us who are hungry – hungry for blessing – hungry for healing – hungry for a decent meal.
And, I believe that today Jesus is turning to us, maybe with a knowing look and a half-smile, and asking us, “So, how are going to feed all these people?”
And, I can even imagine Jesus waving his hand toward our green pasture and saying, "Get to it."
So, yes, it’s been a long road – a long road for you, and for Sue and me – but now, finally, we are walking the road together – guided by Jesus – and, look, there are signs of God’s abundance all around us!
Amen.
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