Isaiah 55: 1–5 / Psalm 145: 8–9, 14–21 / Romans 9: 1–5 / Matthew 14: 13–21
This is the written version of the
homily given at Flohr’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA) in McKnightstown,
Pennsylvania on Sunday, August 2, 2026 by Fr. Gene Tucker, Interim Pastor.
“MIRACLES AND MYSTERIES”
(Homily text: Matthew 14: 13–21)
This
morning, we hear the account of one of our Lord’s most well-known miracles, the
feeding of a very large crowd of people (the Gospel writers tell us that it was
composed of about 5,000 men, not counting women and children).
This
miracle must have[1] been very important to the early Church, for all four Gospel
writers relate this incident to us. In addition, Matthew records yet another
miraculous feeding of a crowd of about 4,000 in chapter 15: 32–39.[2]
People
over time have struggled to understand this event. Some can’t grasp the idea
that Jesus did, just as the Gospel writers tell us that He did, actually
multiply the loaves and the fishes so that all in the crowd were fed. The
account tells us that the Lord’s work was so generous that twelve baskets of
leftover food was gathered up. Some who cannot believe the account as it is
presented to us maintain that people actually brought food for themselves,
which they produced once the five loaves and two fish were presented. Other
ideas for the actual events that unfolded have also been presented.
However,
the importance of the account isn’t just the feeding of the crowd. The deeper
meaning has to do with telling us something about Jesus’ identity as Son of
God. The multiplication of the loaves and fishes is meant to steer us to the
reality that Jesus has at His disposal all the creative abilities of God.
Recall that, in the creation account in Genesis, God spoke and something came
into being, something that didn’t exist beforehand. The miraculous feeding of
that many people is of the same sort of stuff: The Lord created something out
of almost nothing.
Now,
just for the record, I accept as truth the accounts as they appear before us. I
believe (and see through the eyes of faith) that Jesus actually did make use of
those loaves and fish to feed a very large crowd of people.
That
said, I also understand that this is a miracle, something that stands outside
of our normal, everyday experience. In addition, it is also a mystery (at least
to some degree) as to how the Lord actually multiplied the food.
If we
think about it, much of our experience of God is the stuff of miracles. It is
also the stuff of mysteries. For the purposes of this sermon, I am defining a
mystery as something that we know works, we just don’t know how exactly.)
Let’s
survey some of our experiences of God, looking for the miraculous aspects of
it, and looking for the aspects that defy explanation.
We
could begin with the starting point of our walk of faith with God. Why is it
that it begins with our own self-emptying? What I mean is this: If we do not
get to the point of saying something like, “Lord, help me, for I cannot help
myself”, then the journey has gotten off on the wrong foot. For the requirement
to begin from a point of utter helplessness, only to lead to a productive and
wonderful walk with God that brings with it such meaning and depth is a
mystery. Why should it begin that way? We don’t know. But what we do know is
that the most wonderful and meaningful life in God begins this way. A mystery,
but also a miracle.
As I
reflect on this previous point, I am reminded that a complete self-emptying is
the essential meaning of baptism. And, we ought to acknowledge, that as life
unfolds, we will face continuing occasions in which we will have to admit our
own helplessness. Another mystery, and also a miracle that God works in such a
way as this.
Why is
it that faith is so often a component in bringing God’s will into being? Think
of the many times that the Lord told someone, “Your faith has made you well”.
Faith is our response to God’s moving. But faith, if we, ourselves, try to make
it happen, is usually just a counterfeit version of the real thing. For faith
to arise within us, it seems as though the Holy Spirit will have to enter our
hearts and minds in order to stir up the soil of our hearts and our minds so
that faith can take root. Another miracle, that it happens at all, and a
mystery as to why is works this way. But it often does, or – should I say – it
happens this way more often than not.
We
might back up a bit and wonder just why it is that God is willing to relate to
us human beings at all. After all, if we’re honest about ourselves and the
nature of the human race, we’re often cantankerous, often fickle, often
undependable…think of the heroes in the Bible: Most of them have “clay feet” of
some sort or another. Almost all of them had pimples. Almost all of them had
warts. But God chose to relate to these sorts of people, and even chose to work
through (and sometimes around) them. Another miracle, another mystery.
Then
we could talk about God’s generosity. Why is it that God is so generous with us
human beings? We surely don’t deserve it, but God’s nature, it seems, is to be
generous. And not only that, God is also loving. Another mystery, and a miracle
that blesses us throughout life.
One
final example we might cite is the way in which God enters into a situation.
Sometimes, He simply shows up. At other times, He barges in as He did with St.
Paul on the road to Damascus. At still other times, He patiently waits (I think
of the verse from the Book of Revelation, which reads, “Behold, I stand at the
door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to
them and eat with them, and they with me”[3]).
Perhaps,
as we reflect on our life’s journey, and our walk with God, we can see other
examples of God’s working, in miraculous and mysterious ways, ways we can’t
fully understand, oftentimes, but ways that we know actually work.
For
the God we love, worship, obey and walk with throughout life is a God of
miracles, and a God who often works in mysterious ways.
Thanks
be to God.
AMEN.
[1] In biblical times, it was common to count only the men. Today, of
course, we would include the women and children.
[2] Mark also records the feeding of the 4,000, while Luke and John do not.
[3] Revelation 3:20
