Covenant
United Methodist Church
Sunday School 9:45 Worship 8:30 & 10:45 am
Epiphany 3 Extravagance Mathew 14-13-21
I remember a young couple recently standing in front of me. They were a couple who would be married and then go into separate portions of the military in different states. They were both 18 years old! They are making that promise that so many young couples make before God. To love and honor and cherish for rich or for poor in sickness and in health, till death us do part… Now is that a smart thing to do? Is it smart to decide to love someone with such extravagance? To hold nothing back? To love without limit?
Shouldn’t the bride and groom hold a little back? Shouldn’t they consider just how much they can love, just how much love they are willing to give? Shouldn’t each person try to maintain a bit of their cherished individuality???
No says the church! Love with unbridled passion! Love we say is a renewable resource. True love the Bible says isn’t meant for spend thrifts.
In our scripture lesson today, Jesus has been doing good things! Then he hears about John the Baptist’s death. He wants to be alone to mourn and he’s exhausted. So he and the disciples withdraw to a lonely place. By the time he Jesus arrives word has gotten out and the place they get to is anything but lonely… Mathew says, “So he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” It gets late. The people are hungry, and the disciples suggest that Jesus send the crowds away. Jesus commands his disciples to feed the crowd. The disciples ask, “Where on earth are we going to get enough food to feed a crowd this big? We only have a few fish and a couple loaves of bread? How can we find food for so many they want to know…? So Jesus intervenes… Jesus takes a small amount of food and somehow in his hands there is enough… plus leftovers.
Scarcity in the face of great need is contrasted with the gracious extravagant abundance of Jesus. That’s not even the end of the story. They took up 12 baskets full of leftovers! That’s the way it is with Jesus! Even at the close of the day, even when he is tired, even when the day is done, Jesus is there, and with him comes fulfillment, abundance and extravagance.
I remember a couple that came to me and said, “Pastor we have decided to adopt our foster child! . Now I had seen this couple many times to discuss this child that always seemed to be in trouble, and as the ever cautious pastor I say, “Do you think that is wise? You have limited resources and you don’t know what kind of problems you might be inheriting. There are limits to what someone can give… the woman and man look at me and say, “When it comes to love we haven’t found limits yet. From my experience, when Jesus comes into your life, love leads to more love.” And they are right!
I am reminded of Jesus at a party when the wine runs out…no problem Jesus turns water into wine, about 180 gallons, and it is the best stuff you could drink.
Extravagance! Abundance!
That reminds me of when I first came here… There were some areas in our church where things were kind of meager. We were having trouble with finances, we had a big whole in the ceiling in the sanctuary, we had a men’s bathroom that reminded me of a gas station and Sunday School classrooms that were pretty run down. Then Jesus started doing his work through your hands and your effort… and look at us now!
Still I wonder about areas in our church life and personal lives where things are a little meager? I wonder what areas of our personal and church life need Jesus’ abundance and extravagance???
Jesus takes the a few loaves and a few fish, and it is enough with leftovers! It seems like meager stuff but in the hands of Jesus there is abundance, extravagance… and so it is with us too. So it is with our personal lives… so it is with our church. Jesus can take a little and make a lot if we just let him use us…
Will you let Jesus work in your life today??? If you do he will bring you abundance… extravagance…