The other week, I spent a few lovely days in North Norfolk.   Just 4 of us & 2 dogs in 2 caravans, on a caravan site on the Sandringham Estate.  It was fantastic (even if at times a shade too hot!!).  I was able to crash out for a while, enjoy walking along a couple of those beautiful beaches, with wide expanses of sand, walking along the shore line, with my feet in the water; reading, - and sleeping, - and bumbling around.   I was so looking forward to it, and it more than met my expectations  and was I think for me at that time - ‘time off, very well spent’.

There comes a time, I think, in any job where you need a break.  Whether you spend your day at home looking after various family members, or in the office, or out on the fields, or wherever, sometimes it becomes necessary to step back and find some space for yourself. Some time to rest.  To refresh your batteries, so that you're ready for another term or another year, or whatever, in your own particular job.

So I feel for Jesus in today's gospel reading.  He has just learned of the beheading of his cousin, John.  He has gone to spend time on his own in a deserted spot, but the crowds have followed him on foot from goodness knows where;   And Jesus, always sensitive to people's needs, cures their sick. And,  when it grew late, It was becoming evident Jesus wasn't going to do anything, so the disciples thought ahead for him.  They suggested Jesus send the crowd on their way while there was still time.  Still time to buy food, and to find a bed for the night.  But amazingly, Jesus refused.  What's more, he gave his disciples, his disciples, an impossible task. He said: "You give them something to eat."

It seems the disciples weren't best pleased by Jesus' response, for they delivered a pretty sharp and sarcastic reply: "You want us to go and buy bread for all these people at this time of night? (&  I’m  almost surprised they didn’t mention what it might cost, or how much money they’d need to feed all that number!)  But Jesus, even though he too must be tired, isn't looking for a fight.  He ignores the sarcasm, and turns instead to practical matters.  He looks not at what can't be done for the people, but at what can be done.  He sends the disciples to find out just what resources are available.  The resources come from the people themselves, and they appear to be woefully inadequate.  The people offer just five loaves and two fish (and from one of the other gospels we know that this was food came from just one small boy (what we might today call his ‘packed lunch’).   

And that to feed 5000 people.

I think at that point I might have given up.  I think I might have said: "You do what you like, Jesus.   But I'm not staying around to be part of this fiasco!   We simply don't have anything like sufficient means for this situation.  Our hands are tied.  There's no way we can do anything.   I'm going to cut my losses.  I'm off.  And if you've any sense, you'll send these people away and come with me."

But none of the disciples said that.  Despite their fatigue, and in the face of all the odds against a satisfactory outcome to the situation, in the face of common sense, they trusted Jesus.  Even though privately they may have thought it misguided and a waste of time, in fact they followed Jesus' instructions to the letter.  They sat the people down in groups of hundreds and fifties, and waited for Jesus.

And Jesus followed the four-fold action of the Eucharist.

He took the offerings of the people, in this case the bread and the fish,

he blessed them,

he broke them,

and he distributed.

Perhaps this was an early, open-air Eucharist. Perhaps each loaf was divided into ten, and a tenth of a loaf was shared between each group of a hundred people until all 5000 had received.   And in true Eucharistic fashion, all the remaining fragments were gathered up so that none of this precious bread was wasted.  Or perhaps in some inexplicable way, as soon as Jesus had blessed the food, it somehow expanded, so that there was a full meal for everyone.

We'll never know what actually happened.   And in my view, the point of a miracle isn't to explain it away, so that it ceases to be a miracle,   -  but to accept it in whatever way feels most comfortable.  -  And more importantly, to draw out of it the eternal truths the gospel writer is trying to convey.

So what is the point of this particular miracle?  Jesus certainly creates an opportunity to demonstrate God's power.  An opportunity which at first sight, doesn't appear to exist. The resources are not sufficient.  They're too small to do anything.  But Jesus not only uses them, but turns them to huge advantage.

And Jesus nourishes everyone, not just a chosen few.  He doesn't turn anyone away.  He doesn't question anyone, to discover whether they've reached a suitable commitment in order to receive.  He doesn't judge anyone, to discover whether or not they're living the right kind of life.  He doesn't demand repentance before he offers nourishment.  Everyone who is present, receives their fill. 

Those hanging about on the edges, just looking but not really taking part

Those anxious to be right in the middle of the action 

Those content to wait around and let someone else do the organising

Those who were tired and fed up with it all, and who just wanted to go home to a decent meal and bed

Those timid people, who don't mind mingling with the crowd, but who couldn't possibly be singled out for any reason

Those who simply followed the crowd

And those who came for a good story or a good laugh or to be with their friends.

Somehow, Jesus catered for them all:

All ate and were satisfied

The nourishment wasn't bought

Nor did it come from some vast heavenly store

It came from the people,  and it was pretty ordinary stuff  -  nothing remarkable for fancy,  just one small boy’s packed lunch

Common sense would have said it was totally inadequate

But Jesus took what there was, and transformed it into something deeply enriching,   and satisfying,   and filling

But what about the apostles, -  If you read on beyond today’s passage, you’ll find that once they were nourished along with the crowd, and everything was cleared away, we're told: "Jesus made them get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd."

The recharging of our batteries starts with nourishment by Jesus, in whichever way he thinks fit.  And it's followed by rest and recreation – “R & R” which are also in his hands. As long as we trust him, when he demands the seemingly impossible,   in some way he will provide the necessary miracle to ensure it comes about.  Because something appears to be impossible, that's no reason to reject it.

Jesus is concerned about our physical well-being.  As long as we allow him to,  -   by following him rather than demanding the impossible of ourselves, he will make sure our batteries are fully charged in whichever way he decides is best tailored to our needs.