Faith Thoughts for Sunday July 30, 2006
Based on the sermon, by The Rev. Dr. Anne Miner-Pearson
Ephesians 3:14-21 & John 6:1-21

To hear audio of the sermon, click here

I began my sermon with "Jesus is looking for yeast." Then, I suggested that the statement meant not actual yeast, but that Jesus is searching for people who trust in God to provide what we need for an abundant and holy life. Jesus is looking both on the mountain top and in the boat later in the passage, but the disciples are full of fear, not trust. That is not unusual since trusting our lives to God is an intentional spiritual act we must repeat each day: "Give us this day our daily bread."

1. Philip is the first disciple to respond to Jesus' question about where they might buy bread to feed the crowd. Philip is overwhelmed by the crowd and can't imagine possibilities. What about your life is overwhelming to you right now? Do you face life as if it was a problem instead of a gift? Have you turned it over to God? Can you believe that solutions are possible?
2. Next, Andrew find a young boy with a lunch of 5 loaves and 2 fish, but Andrew only sees it as too little. His energy is raising a dough of scarcity. In what parts of your life are you like Andrew? Where do you see not enough? How does that perspective keep you from asking God to bless what is present with the belief that more than enough will be the outcome?
3. In the boat, the disciples are caught in a violent storm and either don't see Jesus coming toward them or don’t recognize him. Again, their fear blinds them. Jesus' words, "It is I. Do not be afraid," opens their eyes and they begin their journey to shore and safety. It doesn't say in the story that the storm stops, only that the disciples wanted Jesus in the boat instead of their fear. How does your fear keep you from living your life more fully? What could change in your life if you imagined Jesus speaking those same words to you?
4. The children's story was "Miss Spider's Tea Party" by David Kirk. A familiar story to most kids, it's about a spider who can't get any bugs to believe that she really wants to be their friend and share a party with them. They don't trust her and they keep missing out on the wonderful party. In many biblical passages, God prepares a banquet for us and invites us to accept the gifts of abundant life that are ours when we trust God. What is keeping you from coming to the banquet? What is keeping you from accepting the gifts? How might that change?

Ephesians 3:14-21

I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

John 6:1-21

Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

In your compassionate love, O God,
you nourish us with the words of life and bread of blessing.
Grant that Jesus may calm our fears
and move our hearts to praise your goodness
by sharing our bread with others. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (CCT), Fortress Press

The Rev. Dr. Anne Miner-Pearson
Episcopal Church of the Nativity
15601 Maple Island Road
Burnsville, MN 55306     952-435-8687
annem-p@nativityepiscopal.net
www.natvitiyepiscopal.net

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