Every parent sooner or later gets the call:
"Dad?"
"Yes?"
"What's for dinner?"
"I don't know for sure--I think maybe chicken."
"Not pizza?"
"No, we had pizza just the other night."
"You're sure it's not pizza?"
"Yes, I'm sure." "Okay, well, then can I stay here for dinner?"
Most children learn early on that the best meals are usually being served at someone else's house. All you have to do is look around and not be afraid to invite yourself to dinner.
The August issue of Chicago Magazine contained
an A to Z listing of the "Best of Chicago" ranging from
the best Bike Trail to the best Zoo spot for kids. Most of us
have our favorite places and things to do--most of us have a favorite
restaurant and a favorite food to order there. The criteria used
in selecting a favorite food are many and varied--probably the
only thing you can be sure of is that healthfulness is usually
not the defining factor. In fact, in most cases it seems the less
healthy a food item is
the more likely it is to be selected as a favorite food choice.
Which also probably explains why most of us feel at least a little
guilty about indulging our tastes with a favorite choice. There
is always healthy frozen yogurt in the freezer at our house--which
tastes very good--but that is because it has a half life far longer
then any container of real Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.
If there is a theme to our lessons for today it might be the question of indulgences--not the kind of indulgences that started the reformation but rather those things that attract our attention and draw us in--those things that we let ourselves be a part of-participate in.
During these last weeks of August and for most
of us the last weeks of summer there is a tendency to indulge
ourselves one last time--take one last outing with the family--one
last trip to the cabin--one last time on the lake or one last
concert at Ravinia--maybe inviting the family together for one
last time before the rush of the fall schedule returns. It is
perhaps fitting that our first lesson from the book of Proverbs
reads almost like a dinner invitation.
Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed
The setting for these words is the personification of Wisdom. Set forth to us as a woman inviting people to her banquet, the invitation is to indulge in the gift of wisdom or at least wisdom's food. A very fitting text for young people about to return to school or college.
In the next few weeks the feast of learning is offered once more--the knowledge of the ages will again be set before our young people. The guests of honor will be the great poets and authors--histories great leaders and politicians will be revisited. The most brilliant minds of science and engineering will point to the deepest secrets of the universe, and the philosophical questions of all existence will be examined.
To this crowded table of learning will come the young of all ages. Some will indulge in tasty morsels of knowledge. Some will even find their spirit touched by beauty and grace. But certainly history will repeat itself time and again as some--faced with the banquet of the age's wisdom and learning respond by asking--"Can't we have pizza?"
Lady wisdom recognizes such folks, which is
why our text has her invitation read,
"You that are simple, turn in here!" to those without
sense she says,
"Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.
Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight."
(Prov. 9:4-6)
The meal offered is not pizza but just as common by the standards
of the day--this is fundamental nourishment--basic for survival--bread
and drink--insight and understanding.
The apostle Paul picks up the theme in his
letter to the church at Ephesus.
Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise,
making the most of the time (Ephesians 5:15-16a)
As the school year prepares to resume there are many of us in the adult ranks who would not mind the opportunity to return to earlier days of school and college--to be free to once more explore ideas--to try out new learnings and develop skills--indulge passions and explore creative moments.The choices that we have made thus far in our lives--some truly good and wise--some the mistakes that have threatened at times to overwhelm us. If we had it to do over again, what might we have done differently if we knew then what we know now what would we change
Certainly we would follow Paul's advice:
Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord
is
That sounds so easy-just do what God wills
and everything will be all right. The problem is that few of us
are all that clear on God's will. We do okay in the broad terms--God
wills that we should all be saved and come to the knowledge of
the truth
--the challenge is in the details-the daily living of each moment--the
struggles against those things that do not make life easy--sickness-failings-sins-both
personal and corporate. We make our choices which are not always
the most wise and we do the best with the gifts we have-some better
than others
There is, in fact, the risk that we begin to think we are the source and authors of our whole state of being. WE solve the mysteries of life with hard work and our own pride miracle and grace itself fade from our lives. For four weeks now we have been invited in our gospel texts to center our thoughts on the most basic needs we have Jesus has centered our reflections on bread--the staff of life-the most basic of all foods. Four weeks ago we began these reflections in the 6th chapter of the Gospel of John with the feeding of 5000 people
Pastor Tom Miller tells of a preacher who was
striving to impress on his congregation the great magnitude of
this miracle
"Who here can feed 5 people with 5,000 loaves and two fishes?"
he asked. A deacon in the front row raised his hand.
The pastor was astonished but went on with the sermon. Afterwards,
the preacher asked the man, "How in the world do you think
you could feed 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fishes?"
The deacon pointed out the pastor's error,
"You asked if I could feed 5 people with 5,000 loaves and
2 fish.That, of course shouldn't be too hard."
So the next week the pastor stepped into the pulpit and began
his sermon by saying,
"I understand that last week I really messed up my sermon
with my opening question. So this week I'll try again.
Who can feed 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fishes?"
The same deacon in the front row raised his hand.
Again after the service the pastor approached the man asking,
"I said it right this time? How are you going to tell me
you'll feed 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fishes?"
The deacon replied, "I'd just use the leftovers from last
week."
The challenge in our society of affluence and opportunity is the leftovers. We have so much that the solution to many of the world's problems is our leftovers. We have enough food to feed the world-so we will send you some. We have enough clothing and medical supplies-we'll send you some. We find many approaching even their faith life from the vantage point of leftovers. We'll give God a little time and money-we can spare it with no problem
For most of us the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 is that the story is still told. We have long since come to recognize the challenges of the world. In terms of those things that test the limits of science--or reflect the failures of various economic or political systems.
A miracle that feeds 5,000 is retold because it invites us to consider the great power God has to multiply that which is given to us. We are simply less in awe of miracles today. To feed 5,000 is impressive, but last week Pastor Chris reminded us that our hunger offerings are part of Lutheran World Relief's efforts to feed some 750,000. And that is just one hunger project in Africa. We put a few dollars in the hunger offering and millions are fed. A few hours are volunteered at the PADS shelter and thousands of homeless are cared for. A few notes are sung in choir and choral praises echo from the hundreds of thousands of churches while spirits soar. The miracle of multiplication is a source of power and promise for the church and our world. The vision of a world where each of us discovers their gifts and uses those gifts to the benefit of others and the glory of God is a vision that is inviting.
But Jesus knew that miracles are not enough
and leftovers are not the answer. A crowd will gather for a good
show-a miracle or two. The church does at times engage in entertainment
evangelism, but there is something more important offered here.
If each week the church had to produce a better miracle then the
week before, how long would it take before we ran out of miracles.
If each week the "show" had to be newer and fresher
then the week before how long would it be before people went looking
for a new God or at least a new religion?
There are some who think that is what the church
and religion is all about--the best show-the most entertaining
service-the most unique program. The television networks exist
on the premise that the audiences will follow the newest-most
unusual-most exotic. Businesses strive to be the first with the
newest or most improved. Even government seduces the public with
promises of newness too often without concern for substance or
content. In the midst of this questing
for the miracle newness Jesus turns to the familiar and ordinary.
No new miracle food-no new wonder supplement--just the simple
announcement
-I am the living bread that came down from heaven.
To the ancient audience to whom he spoke these
words were mystifying and new. But to us-they are the center of
a 2000 year promise. The source of certainty that does not depend
on any human effort or insight. In the midst of the many complex
choices we must make to live true and good lives--in the face
of the challenges of life that threaten our happiness--at times
our very existence--we hear a simple truth
-the one who eats this bread will live forever
The newness is not found in the bread but in the one who receives it. We who come to the table depart not with the leftovers of grace. But the gift of new beginning-new hope-new life. We are nourished by the simple moment of grace that we might go forth and choose wisely-live wisely.
What are we serving today? Nothing unexpected--bread
and wine--Christ's body and blood--a gift of grace to life everlasting.
We hear again the ancient voice:
Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed
We are assured once again
The one who eats this bread will live forever
Amen.