SERMON FOR AUGUST 2, 2020        TEXT: MATTHEW 14:13-21

          “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself.” What exactly did Jesus hear that compelled him to make himself scarce? It was the news of the grisly death of John the Baptist. Here is Matthew’s account:

          “At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; and he said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been telling him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’ Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod    so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.’ The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus” (Matthew 14:1-12).

          The news of John’s execution must have grieved Jesus. Moreover, Herod’s rash, brutal action did not bode well for his own safety. And so Jesus prudently seeks refuge out of the public eye for the time being. Only the respite is all too brief. By the time his boat arrives at the deserted place he sought, people from the surrounding towns had followed him on foot. When he comes ashore he is faced by a great crowd.

          Matthew juxtaposes two stories of a powerful host and his show of hospitality — Herod’s birthday feast on the one hand and the loaves and fishes Jesus offers on the other.

          Herod loathes John the Baptist but fears him as well, because of the prophet’s judgment of Herod’s actions and his popularity among Herod’s subjects. Herodias, the King’s wife and onetime sister-in-law, despises the prophet even more for meddling in their affairs. John is languishing in prison the night Herod celebrates his birthday. By the end of the evening his severed head is served up on a platter, like one more delicacy to be presented to the    guests. We are told that the king was grieved by his stepdaughter’s demand, but he had sworn to give her whatever she might ask. He made the promise before witnesses. Now honor and pride require him to keep his word; they take precedence over justice and compassion. Powerful men in Herod’s world do what is necessary to preserve their status. They do not back down; that would betray weakness. No, they double down, and people caught in the cross fire die.

          Over against this instance of royal cruelty Matthew sets the story of the feeding of the five thousand. When Jesus sees the great crowd, he forgoes his well-deserved solitude to attend to their needs. Matthew tells us, “[H]e had compassion for them and cured those who were sick.” He kept at it until evening. The disciples in their own way show consideration for those gathered. They remind Jesus that it is getting late and the place is isolated. It would be wise for him to send the people on their way so that they could get back to town before nightfall and get something to eat. Jesus assures them that there’s nothing to worry about, yet he doesn’t say, “I’ll take care of it.” He tells the disciples, “[Y]ou give them something to eat.” They produce their scant five loaves and two fish at his command, and dubious though they surely were, they begin distributing the meager fare after Jesus has blessed it. “And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.”

          Historians point out that food insecurity was a constant struggle for most of the population of the first-century Roman Empire. Poor nutrition undermined their immune systems and compromised their health. It is no wonder Jesus encountered so many sick people in need of healing. The ruling elites, however, enjoyed abundant variety and good quality of food. We don’t know the menu for Herod’s birthday celebration, but we can safely assume it boasted far more than five loaves and two fish.

          Jesus’ action is rich in meaning on several levels. It is a simple act of justice and the fulfillment of God’s will that hungry people be fed. The prophet Isaiah proclaims, “Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the fast I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free . . .? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeslss poor into your house . . .?” (Isaiah 58:5-7). Jesus proclaims that one factor in the final judgment will be whether or not one has met this need: “Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink . . . .” (Matthew 25:34-35). “And all ate and were filled.” To be full —what an experience that must have been for these followers of Jesus who faced hunger constantly.

          This present moment of fulfillment is also a sign of the fulfillment to come. In today’s first reading the prophet calls, “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”    And again from Isaiah, “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow. Of well-aged wines strained clear” (Isaiah 25:6). As one New Testament scholar points out, “One of the reasons that the new age is often represented in terms of abundant food is the absence of such food in the present.” In the kingdom of heaven they will come from east and west, north and south, and take their place at the Lord’s table to share a feast the likes of which even King Herod has not tasted (Matthew 8:11; Luke 12:29).

          We hear in this story both Jesus’ command and his promise. Quite simply, we are to feed the hungry. We aren’t miracle-workers, but we can do wonders by our direct gifts, our political policies, our community service. And by securing adequate nutrition for those who lack it or face losing it, we will also share in Jesus’ ministry of healing. Five loaves, two fish, and the willingness to try — that’s all the disciples brought to the table that day. Jesus required their contribution and their participation and used them to accomplish his extraordinary purpose.    He does the same with us.

        “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.” The world abounds with loathsome Herods — the tyrant who had great power but lacked the strength to back down from a bad decision to do what he knew was right. Compare him to Jesus, in whom compassion took pride of place, whose confidence in speaking the truth was unshakable. In his service, by his grace, you will become like him. You too will eat and be filled. Amen.