Sermon – 08-06-23 – St. Dan
Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21; Matthew 14:13-21
Sermon Title: “Cheeseburger in Paradise”

I think you have already started this series of song titles matched with scripture. I have been told that I don’t need to know the words of the song to write this sermon. Maybe you know the words of the song. Maybe you would kindly erase those words from your mind unless by some miracle they actually do enhance the scripture today.

But, I will gladly confess that I feel like I am in paradise when I take the first bite of a hamburger; better still a cheeseburger. My first date with my husband coincided with the first McDonald’s opening in the area. It was on Lehigh Street in Allentown. I thought I was in heaven – a handsome man and the magic of hamburgers and french fries at the whopping price of something like 15¢ for the hamburger and maybe 10¢ for the fries. To this day, a big MAC delights my taste buds and my mood, even though the price is a far cry from that first McDonald’s hamburger.

Now how could this title lend itself to the scriptures for today? We have the story of the five thousand men plus women and children being fed on 5 loaves and 2 fish. These were probably not big loaves because, as I understand the story, a young boy was carrying this food himself for his own meal. I checked. The four gospels have this story. Only John mentions the young boy. The other gospels just say the disciples have these 5 loaves and 2 fish. Imagine yourself as the young boy getting hungrier and hungrier to eat this food that he is carrying probably all day. Then these grown men find you and ask you to give these 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed the crowd. Would you have willingly given this food for the common good? Probably not I. I have a strong streak of selfishness, especially with food.

Is this story literally true? I mean, only one person in five thousand is carrying food! And then five loaves and two fish feeding five thousand! Sometimes when we take accounts in the Bible too literally we miss the whole point.

I personally believe the Father and Jesus and the Holy Spirit can do anything they want to do. So I easily believe that Jesus could have multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed that crowd. I do not concern myself with scientific details. However, I wonder how I am expected to bring this account into my life, into my society, to make a difference. What is God waiting for me to do?
What is God waiting for you to do? What is God waiting for us to do together?

Do you know, that as a congregation, you are feeding the crowd, you are helping to care for the health of your neighbors, you are caring for young children whose lives will be better because you provide space for them to learn how to interact in good ways with other children. You prepare quilts to keep people warm. All of these provisions do more than feed or clothe. These caring gestures enable good feelings and promote peace. We have not mentioned “love.” Not the love for a Big Mac but the love that accompanies the grain and the fruit trees and the vegetable seeds and the well-digging equipment and the hug you give to the little child who lives near you – this love is what will see peace grow in our world. We are fed by the love of Jesus which multiplies as we pass it around. May it be so. Amen