Christ The King

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. 

When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” 

Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.

When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone. (John 6:1-15)

It is intriguing that Jesus did not want to be made a king.  Kings, like Caesar, didn’t care for the poor and needy.  They were concerned more about their own aggrandizement.  They were lofty and privileged.  They would never have taken loaves, given thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.  No, their banquets were not to be shared except with sycophants and those whose support they needed.  

In contrast, here at Christ the King we behave as Jesus instructed by showing compassion and love.  For the Food Pantry we gather the loaves and fish, and even the fragments left over, to distribute them not to five thousand in number (we would if we could), but to any number seeking enough food to eat.  In contrast to the mountain scene, Jesus does not withdraw to be alone, he stays with us and helps us serve.

Deacon David Pierce