Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Enough to Get Home 4 March 2008

Mark 8:1-10
Tuesday, 4 March 2008

I have been a bit under the weather the last few days, but of course my responsibilities have not diminished. I have been able to cancel or postpone a few things. For the things I absolutely could not postpone, I prayed that God would give me just enough strength to get through them.

Today's text reminds us again of the sure footing we are on when we ask for enough to get us home. Jesus has been feeding the crowds all that they can handle of the gospel message. For three days, they have dined sumptuously on his teaching, replete with miracles. The most important aspects of life are covered. Life indeed is more than food; everything that proceeds from Jesus' mouth satisfies the hungry and thirsty soul. But Jesus sees something more. His compassion extends beyond the spiritual. The people need to eat, otherwise they will not survive the journey back to their residences. What follows Jesus' astute observation is the disciples' lesson about God's abundant provision even with scarce resources. The people are seated. Jesus provides, not simply enough to get the people home but more than enough. Jesus uses the provisions and the hands of the disciples to fill up the people. Extra is left over.

As we come to the end of our resources - physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual - we have the opportunity to see Jesus' compassion and surpassing greatness in action yet again. There is no such thing as just enough in Jesus. We are ourselves, along with all of our substance and our need, in the hands and in the heart of the all sufficient one. We have cause to rejoice.

Sing "All I Need"

Let us pray:
You alone know, O Lord, where the middle of this Lenten season finds us. You know our weariness, our worry; you know how far we have come and how far we've yet to journey. Grant us a glimpse of your compassionate eyes. Seeing you, make us confident of your grace to finish the course with more than enough of what we need to make it home, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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