What's the point?

This morning the men's bible study considered the incredibly rich passage that is on tap for Sunday.  The pericope from John's Gospel contains two stories, feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on water.  Our conversation led us to ask, "What's the point?"  More specifically, why are these miracle stories or as John notes, signs, important to the ministry of Jesus?

I was proud of our group this morning because they achieved fourth level of interpretation which is an eschatological take on scripture (literal/historical, moral, allegorical, and eschatological).  In other words, we considered the implications of this reading in the context of the fullness of time.  In the person and work of Jesus stories like this one reveal to us that Jesus is drawing all time, the past, present, and future into one (the church does this best at the Eucharistic feast).

These signs and miracle stories give us a glimpse of what the new heaven and new earth look like.  These miracle stories are stories that break the rules of reality but more importantly these miracle stories point to the new reality that we have in Jesus and give us reason to pray-on earth as it is in heaven.  In God's kingdom our economy is based on the assumption of abundance, not scarcity.  In God's kingdom we have no reason to be afraid.

This past Saturday I witnessed the reality of God's new kingdom at the Episcopal Day of Service.  When I woke up on Saturday, I was worried.  I was worried that there would not be enough work for the 150 volunteers who signed up.  I was worried that there would not be enough food for the extra 100 people from the community who were to join us for lunch.  I was operating on the assumption of scarcity.

Before I was set to pray, I remembered the words of Jesus, "It is I, do not be afraid."  I remembered that God was in charge and that whatever happens the work of God will be accomplished in only the way that God can provide.  In the end people were excited to put their hands and feet to work in any way they could find.  People recognized that the work of God was more than just fixing up a few houses.  The work of God celebrates the body of Christ in community with one another.  The most important work we did on Saturday was the celebration of Christ's body with new friends.

Like the boy who had a little bit of fish and a little bit of bread, our work was to show up and offer our gifts.  God was in charge and there was enough for everyone.