St. Matthew 14:13-21
St. Paul writes to the church at Rome: “...be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God”(Romans 12:2). St. Paul sees two conflicting teachings and ways of living that exist in this world. This is not to say that St. Paul is ignorant that God created the world. St. Paul is well aware of it. Simply, St. Paul knows what sin has done to God’s creation. We, the church and saints of Christ, would rather that we had nice things to say about the world. God is the author of this wonderful creation, and there are still awe-inspiring aspects of this creation. There is a beauty that bespeaks the natural knowledge of God’s existence. The fact that the sun rises and sets among us each day is definitely reason to rejoice in the goodness of the Lord. St. Paul’s warning about the world does not deny the beautiful aspects of God’s creation. Rather, he warns the church about the hidden variable that sneaks around perverting God’s creation. St. Paul’s notation is over the spiritual existence of Christians. The apostle exhorts the church at Rome to be aware. Do not be conformed to this world. What does that mean, exactly? The apostle tells the church in Ephesus what it looks like: “But fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be named among you, as is fitting for saints. Neither filthiness, nor much idle chatter, nor rude joking or jesting.....”(Ephesians 5:3-4). The reality of creation and the sin that exists in creation is a difficult thing to sort out, sometimes. Your vulnerability (and the vulnerability of the churches in the New Testament) is found in what you perceive God’s creation to be. We think that if something doesn’t look dangerous then it must be OK. Satan loves it when we paint a picture of him that is this ugly creature with horns and a pitchfork. Everyone would be on guard against something ugly and openly threatening like that. On the contrary Satan is described in the Old Testament as beautiful. His angelic name before his fall, Lucifer, means “daystar.” He was referred to as “son of the morning(Isaiah 14:12). Part of the danger of the saints while journeying on this earth is that we run of the risk of falling prey to the things of this world that are tainted with sin. They are often disguised. They appear to us to part of the normal landscape of life. Herein lies the danger.....The gospel lection, in a subtle way, shows us the two roads: being conformed to this world or transformed by the renewing of your mind...... Twice in the gospel St. Matthew points out for us that the location is a deserted place. Jesus goes there first; the multitudes follow Jesus there. These people are in need of a shepherd. They seek a shepherd, but they wander into the desert region without protection. The deserted regions are symbolized as the place where Satan prowls. These regions hint at spiritual danger. Just as in the Garden of Eden, Satan lies in wait to trap with his cunning ways. Then to add to the difficulty, these people came with their family members and friends who were sick, lame, or diseased. They looked for help and refreshment from the difficulties that have been brought on by this world. One difference between God’s creation prior to sin and what stood before Jesus was the dynamic that sin brought into the world. Sickness, disease, a brokenness of all degrees came from Satan’s allure to Adam and Eve in the Garden. God did not create the world to be this way, but sin has tainted God’s wonderful creation. The sin that exists in the world makes it a harsh world. We may not like to hear this, but it is true. The only thing that can begin to change this dastardly condition of the world is the divine love of Christ. This is what we see in the gospel. The people come to a desert region, signifying their spiritual vulnerability and danger. Broken, diseased, sick and dying, they come to the only one who can change it. Divine love is the answer which is seen in how Jesus feels compassion, a pain and sadness that affects Him in his inmost being. Not only does Jesus heal the multitudes, but He notes their hunger and miraculously feeds them. They end up with more left over than they had at the start. But the danger that exists affected the multitudes, because a parallel account of this same situation is told in St. John 6. Remember St. Paul’s words, “Do not be conformed to this world....but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” How do the people respond? In St. John’s gospel, they see that Jesus could be their “bread king” and provide their earthly desires and needs. St. John says that the people conspired together how they might take Jesus by force and make Him king. Conformed to the world and the thoughts of their belly, they take something good and refreshing and turn it around for their worldly gain. There is no devil with horns and a pitchfork here. Satan hides behind the good that God creates and turns it to his own advantage. It is this that urges caution for us. Tucked away in God’s holy word is the substance of what the people were to understand from Jesus‘ love and compassion. Deuteronomy 8:7-10 says: “For the Lord your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills.....a land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness, you shall not lack anything in it......when you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.” The feeding of the 5000 was the sign that the Messiah had come. The kingdom of heaven is the land which is given through the sacrifice and blood of Jesus that is poured out for all the world. The bread which was given in abundance was the sign that the heavenly feast was upon them. The divine love which was threatened by Satan now comes with full force to envelope all of the heavenly Father’s creation. Divine love pervades this dark world with the light of Christ. The days of hate were to be undone by the pervasive divine love of Christ that would enter the world through Jesus. His love would emanate from His being and enter the lives of others. Instead of death, there would be life. Instead of anger there would be charity. Instead of condemnation, there would be forgiveness. Instead of hell and Satan, there would be heaven and Jesus. This is your home. Not the world, mind you, but Jesus, the body of Christ. This is the way of the church. Through baptism we enter into the holiness and divine love of Jesus. We have entered into the holiness of Jesus through His blood. Our hearts are sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies are washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22). It is in this new way that we now live. This is why St. Paul refers to those in the churches as “saints.” You are likewise those saints who are holy unto the Lord. The love of Jesus has come. It continues to emanate from Jesus through the Holy Scriptures and into the lives of the saints. You are being transformed by the renewing of your mind by Jesus Who fills you with the Holy Spirit through the word as He draws you near with a heavenly bread that abounds and is found on the altar. Jesus feeds you with the bread of heaven which disperses His love and forgiveness. This heavenly supper is the antidote to the world of sin and brings to you the protection and care of Jesus as you walk as His children in the world. Amen. -- Rev. Chad Kendall Trinity Lutheran Church Lowell, Indiana www.trinitylowell.org http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=243282012833
