by Bishop Bill Gohl
When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?" Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. - John 6, selected
As Jesus pours forth the Word of God, the Bread of Life, the disciples are worried about how to fill their bellies; in a moment of panic and weakness, it is a child, a small boy, the scriptures say, a young man, new enough to the faith, to hear with new ears and a new heart the call of Christ, the call to share, to love, to encourage. It is his example of self-sacrifice that moves him to offer his own small lunch to share with thousands that finds Jesus seeing him with eyes of compassion and pride. It is a portrait of discipleship at its best, people of every walk and station in life sharing not simply lunch and life with one another, but sharing the very stuff of life that enlivens our hearts and our faith.
Often, when we read the scriptures about the disciples, we think they had it together, perhaps even that they had it good – after all, they are Jesus' buddies, his inner-circle, his friends. But it’s moments like the one we hear about today – disciples fretting and worrying over lunch, when they've seen the power of Jesus over and over again – it reminds us that no one is beyond the reach or need of encouragement in the faith.
Growth in faith happens as we are mentored and as we mentor and encourage others. That boy's action spoke louder than any sermon you or I could preach. Growing in faith is not about telling someone to go to church, or smugly telling someone to pray or open the scriptures – it's about demonstrating with our lives why worshipping, why praying, studying the scriptures, living in Christian community, why these things are important to you. It's about passing on the faith not so much in what we say, but in what we do – our lives speak louder than our words ever can.
Martin Luther captured the importance of this practice of encouragement in his explanation of the Eighth Commandment: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." Characteristically, he turned a negative "thou shalt not" commandment into a positive "thou shall" commandment. Not only should we refrain from betraying, slandering or defaming the neighbor, but we should "apologize for him, speak well of him, and interpret charitably all that he does." Luther knew the corrosive effects of negative thinking and gossip on the fabric of community. He also knew that we can often inspire people to act better than they might otherwise act. He regarded the practice of encouragement as one way in which the Gospel itself offered counsel. He envisioned a community of friends, called together to listen to the Good News and challenged to be a mouthpiece of that Good News to one another in speech, comfort, and friendship. Luther's community would also encourage each other in the lifelong task of Christian education. The practice of encouragement involves striving together for some understanding of life with God. We teach the faith as a gift offered through Christ crucified that cannot be achieved on our own.
In the post-"Doubting Thomas" second week of Easter, I've been thinking about the larger-than-life people who have encouraged me, who've passed on the faith to me throughout my life including folks like you who continue to drive me in prayer, study and worship to know the God whose love knows no ending – for you, me and the world, no exceptions.
Who passed on the faith, who encouraged you? Was it a beloved parent or grandparent, was it a neighbor, co-worker or friend? If you're new to faith, who is it that God has blessed you to invite into the community of Christ, to this journey with you? For it is in their encouragement and yours that the story is told, the cross lifted high and Christ made known.
Encourage one another, as that special young man did the crowd and the disciples many years ago on the banks of Bethsaida by the Sea of Galilee. Bring your thoughtful gifts, your encouraging words and a commitment to share the gift of faith by your own faithful living in the places where you work and play, to those you love and live among. May our lives give power, faith and encouragement to others through our words.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world. For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, asking that by God's will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you - or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. - Romans 1:8-12
Growth in faith happens as we are mentored and as we mentor and encourage others. That boy's action spoke louder than any sermon you or I could preach. Growing in faith is not about telling someone to go to church, or smugly telling someone to pray or open the scriptures – it's about demonstrating with our lives why worshipping, why praying, studying the scriptures, living in Christian community, why these things are important to you. It's about passing on the faith not so much in what we say, but in what we do – our lives speak louder than our words ever can.
Martin Luther captured the importance of this practice of encouragement in his explanation of the Eighth Commandment: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." Characteristically, he turned a negative "thou shalt not" commandment into a positive "thou shall" commandment. Not only should we refrain from betraying, slandering or defaming the neighbor, but we should "apologize for him, speak well of him, and interpret charitably all that he does." Luther knew the corrosive effects of negative thinking and gossip on the fabric of community. He also knew that we can often inspire people to act better than they might otherwise act. He regarded the practice of encouragement as one way in which the Gospel itself offered counsel. He envisioned a community of friends, called together to listen to the Good News and challenged to be a mouthpiece of that Good News to one another in speech, comfort, and friendship. Luther's community would also encourage each other in the lifelong task of Christian education. The practice of encouragement involves striving together for some understanding of life with God. We teach the faith as a gift offered through Christ crucified that cannot be achieved on our own.
In the post-"Doubting Thomas" second week of Easter, I've been thinking about the larger-than-life people who have encouraged me, who've passed on the faith to me throughout my life including folks like you who continue to drive me in prayer, study and worship to know the God whose love knows no ending – for you, me and the world, no exceptions.
Who passed on the faith, who encouraged you? Was it a beloved parent or grandparent, was it a neighbor, co-worker or friend? If you're new to faith, who is it that God has blessed you to invite into the community of Christ, to this journey with you? For it is in their encouragement and yours that the story is told, the cross lifted high and Christ made known.
Encourage one another, as that special young man did the crowd and the disciples many years ago on the banks of Bethsaida by the Sea of Galilee. Bring your thoughtful gifts, your encouraging words and a commitment to share the gift of faith by your own faithful living in the places where you work and play, to those you love and live among. May our lives give power, faith and encouragement to others through our words.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world. For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, asking that by God's will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you - or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. - Romans 1:8-12