Two Different Dinners

At camp this week we had a meal called Fish Squares. Traditional fish sticks contain more fish meat than these fish squares. There was more infused bread than there was fish it seemed. The adults at the camp complained more than the campers. In the Gospel reading today Matthew 14 we hear of how Jesus fed a lot of people with just a little fish. Isaiah asks an important question : Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? What kind of food does not satisfy, fish squares perhaps, or maybe the new Burger King sandwich, maybe it is a bigger boat? We want more and desire bigger and more grand possessions. We do not need possessions and stuff, yet it seems we identify ourselves with what we own. Our stuff determines our identity. When we went to Madagascar we had to give away at least half of our possessions. Giving away books hurt the most, I didn't care too much about the clothes. We did keep the piano and had it shipped to us. I thought that here was our chance to be more spiritual to live with less, shed the excess of our possessions. I believed I would be happier with less, but alas and alack, after a few years in Madagascar, we had accumulated more stuff, and we refilled our closets and shelves. I guess we were too conditioned to live with possessions not to live without them. In Matthew 14 we see two contrasted dinners. The first one at Herod's palace has the super rich and the poor servants present. Herod isn't a real king; Jesus is the real king as defined by Psalm 72: Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. 2May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. 3May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. 4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. 5May he live* while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. 6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. 7In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. 8May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. 9May his foes* bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust. 10May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute,may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts. 11May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. 12For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. 13He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. 14From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight. 15Long may he live! May gold of Sheba be given to him.May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all day long. 16May there be abundance of grain in the land; may it wave on the tops of the mountains; may its fruit be like Lebanon;and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field. 17May his name endure for ever, his fame continue as long as the sun.May all nations be blessed in him;* may they pronounce him happy. 18Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19Blessed be his glorious name for ever; may his glory fill the whole earth.Amen and Amen. The King deserves to be king because he serves the needy, poor and sick. Jesus feeding the 5000 is the arrival of the Kingdom of God; it is with this event that it begins. Simple common cfood is provided and there is more than enough for everyone. Herod's banquet, rich and glorious has extravagant food and it ends in death--the death of John the Baptist. Jesus' meal,simple and common, ends in life.