Isaiah 55:1-5 Thus says the Lord:
"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.
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.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you."
Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 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.
Reflection Eight months ago we were a people preoccupied with buying our airline or theatre tickets and planning our next hike, cruise or family vacation. All good things, but things in God’s economy that do not last and ultimately, do not satisfy.
Four months later we were a people preoccupied with waiting in long lines and spending inordinate amounts of money on bags of beans and rice, cans of tuna and mountains of toilet paper. All good things, but things in God’s economy that do not last and ultimately, do not satisfy.
For the most part, I believe, our initial response to the alarming news about a global pandemic was much like the disciples standing on the shores of Galilee and imploring Jesus to “send the people away so they could buy food for themselves.” “Go, store up your survival supplies. It is up to you to take care of number one, yourself.” But Jesus has a different perspective on reality and avers “(The people) need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
Is it not interesting that five and a half centuries before Jesus is born, at the end of the Babylonian exile, the poet third Isaiah is counseling the Jews about buying and eating bread and milk and wine. For two generations many Jews have lived far south of Jerusalem in exile. During this time they have acquired wealth. Now that they are free many are reluctant to return to Jerusalem, which waits for them in ruin.
Third Isaiah challenges the people, “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.” In other words, “Your tangible resources and wealth are nothing compared to the blessing of being in relationship with God and your people, returning to Jerusalem.” Here it is important to recall that the Jews then believed their ruined temple was the site of God’s Presence. Being released from exile they were now free to return to Jerusalem, rebuild the temple and restore relationship with the Holy of Holies. The poet’s bottom line message is, there is something better than real food available to you. You have a choice. Will you leave what does not satisfy behind and turn toward what is good?
Shifting gears for a moment, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
Twenty five hundred years ago third Isaiah could have spoken the words penned by Charles Dickens in his Tale For Two Cities to the Jews in Babylon. The same sentiment rings true for Jesus five hundred and fifty years later. And, on Thursday evening a group of leaders at Church of the Apostles agreed, Dickens words endure today.
It is the best of times for stopping the swirl of habitual activity, aimless action and the deluge of empty distraction. It is the worst of times for being separated from family and friends. Foolishness flourishes when we are sucked into the vortex of divisiveness stirred up by pundits and politicians. Wisdom swells when we listen to reasoned words and thoughtful consideration. Despair breaks our hearts as people die alone and loved ones cannot celebrate the lives of the deceased. Hope thrives in the darkness of uncertainty when we choose to see our challenges as opportunities, opportunities to cultivate the gardens of our shared lives.
Now that much of our habitual busyness, empty actions and deluge of distractions are laid to rest during our time of sheltering in place, we have the opportunity to let go of things that do not last and hold fast to that which truly satisfies, we have the opportunity to pull the weeds and cultivate the gardens of our shared lives.
Twenty five hundred years ago or today, the message is the same.
“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
…so that you may live.”
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