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What You Said

Lord, I’m tired. I’ve been doing what you said.
Now where’s my bread?
I’m glad we’re going
to a place alone, with you, to rest.
And in the boat we do have respite,
time at last to listen to the wavelets slap the boat,
to see the sky so blue so vast, to smell the air
so full of joy, to laugh and then in awe
recount what has been done
through us, our hands,
our oil infused with miracles
beyond our grasp.

But now (I gasp) the crowd has followed us
preceded us in fact, and here we go again.

Your face your eyes so full
of mercy and of grace and as you speak
we all—the crowds and we alike—
forget our need and drink
and eat your words,
refreshment at its best!

Yes, we’ll soon feed the thousands
with some little loaves of bread,
but even now, we’re satisfied,
consuming what you said.

February 19, 2019

The Gospel for today is Mark 6:30-34, about the twelve disciples’ return from their successful mission: Jesus had sent them out, two-by-two, to preach, heal and cast out demons (7-12). They return, tell him what they’ve done, and he invites them to come aside to “a deserted place” to rest. They get into the boat with him and cross the lake, only to be met by “the multitudes [who] saw them departing and…ran there on foot.” No rest for the weary! And yet, they’ve had some time to rest while crossing in the boat. So in fact they are refreshed enough for what will come next: Jesus, “moved with compassion,” begins to teach the crowd.

Eventually (35-44) the disciples feel they must inform Jesus that since this is “a deserted place” and there’s nothing to eat, he needs to send the crowds away to get their own food. But that’s not what Jesus has in mind. He tells the disciples to see what’s available right where they are, and they end up distributing five loaves of bread and two fish to “about five thousand men” (and perhaps some women and children too, eh?) and then to take up twelve baskets full of the fragments left over—a basket per disciple! Hmmm, how about that!

Did they go to a deserted place? Did they find refreshment? Oh yes! It didn’t look like what they first had in mind, but oh, how much better! God’s ways are not ours, but no need to worry. He has it all figured out. And all we have to do is give up our agenda and let ourselves be fed by His words, His plan, His love. All will be well.


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