We explored last week that this situation needed people resources--you needed people to get the food to 5000 people--one person couldn't do it alone. And yet, even with all of the people in place to deliver the resources, you can't deliver the resources if you don't have them!
The disciples identify the need. Luke 9:12 says, "The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.’ " The disciples, perhaps acknowledging their own "gut" feelings, see that it is late, and they've missed dinner time--and that therefore this huge crowd is likely also hungry. They need to eat; this place is deserted. They need to be sent away to get dinner.
Jesus has a response (verse 13): "‘You give them something to eat.’" And now the need hasn't changed, but the means of addressing it has. Jesus says the people aren't on their own, but they are to be fed right then and there. So somehow the disciples need to find a means of doing that.
"‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.’" (verse 13). Their immediate response acknowledges that the food they have doesn't seem to them to be nearly enough for that large a crowd, and the clear implication is that they don't have enough money either. But they have correctly identified that to meet this physical need, they need material resources.
We as a church have been faced with this with the pandemic. The first Tuesday of each month has been McKnight UMC's day to support Our Daily Bread--the program on the North Side that feeds a meal to homeless people. Up until April, we have gone there, taking the ingredients, preparing the meal in their kitchen, and serving it. Beginning in April we have not gone in person, but have sent Our Daily Bread a check to cover the cost of the meal, and the people have been fed each first Tuesday because of our contribution--just not by us. We plan to get back to going in person when we can. But it is not yet time.
But the point stands. People who are hungry can only be fed by food. Someone has to get the food to them--but someone has to provide the food, by whatever means it can be done. People resources are needed--so are material resources. Both are part of needs being met; both are needed in effective stewardship.
GOSPEL Luke 9:10-17
10 On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured.
12 The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.’ 13 But he said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.’ 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, ‘Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.’ 15 They did so and made them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.