Pentecost 12

Readings: Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 78; Romans 9:1-5; and Matthew 14:13-21 (sermon text).

What did Jesus hear (v. 13)? About the beheading of His cousin, John the Baptist. This explains why He withdrew - being 100% human, He was distraught. A prelude/premonition to His own gruesome death - the reason He came to earth. But instead of solitude, He got more crowds. So He had splagchna on them, healing their sick. But that wasn't His mission; the crowds didn't understand. They wanted a bread-king. When the miracles stopped, they crucified Him. The miracles' purpose was to show His divinity. He gives bread for our souls.

The day wore on; the disciples became pragmatic. Jesus told them to find food (after all, they had just come back from evangelizing and casting out demons!). Their actions showed, then, lack of trust in God. Remember that you - all people - do not live as if you trust in Him either. But Jesus took the paltry food they found, had the crowd sit on the grass (as a good Shepherd does), said a blessing (His total life was in God's presence), and broke the loaves (the first instance of many), making them much (12 baskets!) more than enough. Therefore He is perfectly capable of caring for you.

God's mercy is indeed a marvel. He provides for our bodies and souls, "eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses."