The crowd was growing and Jesus knew they were going to try to find him and make him king by force. Interesting line there isn’t it. So he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

We know the story. We know it well. The people followed Jesus. There was a great crowd. And they were hungry. They did not have food. So Jesus in John’s gospel asked, “Where can we buy food?” Philip said, “200 hundred denarii would not be enough.” A denarii was about a days wage. So it would take 200 days wages to pay for food for 5,000 people.

Andrew did see one boy. He had 5 loaves and two fish. But Andrew thought out loud, but what is that among so many people. 5,000 sat down. Took what he had and gave thanks. Gave to the people. They ate and were satisfied. Gather the left overs, 12 baskets left over.

A boy shared his meager lunch and it multiplied. That is how it works. When we share what we have, it multiplies.

Do any of you remember reading in the funny papers, the comic strip section of the paper, “Family Circus?” Well Bill Keane, the illustrator, was once asked how he was able to divide his love among his 5 children. He said, “Love doesn’t divide. It multiplies.” I have always had a fond memory of that quote. Perhaps because I am the youngest of 5. But it means so much to be reminded to use the right math. Love isn’t about dividing. It is about multiplying.

We do not know how this: 5 loaves and 2 fish multiplied. We know God is the one who gave the increase. Some say the people had a little and those who had extra shared and God touched their hearts and they gave out of their abundance. Perhaps. I think it is important to remember God uses what we give.

This is a time in the year many churches are receiving new pastors like this one. When that happens, you can’t help but compare. It reminds me of the apostle Paul’s words, 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and each will receive wages according to their own labor. 9 For we are God’s coworkers, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

This church is almost 200 years old. Someone, years ago, started this church. Someone planted. Others watered, but God gave the increase. Look at our church garden at LIma. Someone planned it. Someone planted. Someone watered, someone maintains it. But GOD gives the increase.

How did the 5,000 get fed with just a few loaves and fish? (5 loaves and 2 fish) multiplied to feed thousands even with leftovers? God knows. Our contributions added to other contributions feed the world. A little boy, and his small offering. What a story. Jesus recognized the hunger.

Bruce Springsteen

Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody’s got a h-h-hungry heart

Everybody needs a place to rest
Everybody wants to have a home
Don’t make no difference what nobody says
Ain’t nobody like to be alone

This gospel today is a reminder everybody’s got a hungry heart. I am so glad Lima is giving money and food to the Media food bank. I am glad they are feeding a hot meal to the hungry. The little we give will multiply if we share our lunch, give of what we have.

In the gospel of Luke the Beatitude is:
Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.

The perhaps more familiar beatitude is from the gospel of Matthew.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.

Every body’s got a hungry heart. Let us share the love of God with others. Let us invite others into our church home. Everybody needs a place to rest, aint no body like to be alone.

It may seem like we have little to share. Let God do the increase. I am sure when the first church members at Otterbein gave of their time and talents, they didn’t know what God could do. Those who planted here, those who watered, all part of what the garden becomes.

We ponder the idea of feast and famine. Frederick Buechner years ago, gave reflections of different words such as this one about bread

We don’t live by bread alone, but we also don’t live long without it. To eat is to acknowledge our dependence both on food and on each other. It also reminds us of other kinds of emptiness that not even the blue -late special can touch.

Every body’s got a hungry heart. Some for food, Let us share our lunch, our gifts and see what God can do. Some also hunger to know we are not alone. Let us hunger and thirst for relationships of care and nurture. AMEN.