Thomas J Parlette
“A Meal in a Deserted Place”
Matt. 14: 13-22, Isa. 55: 1-5
8/2/26
Today we see the very human side of Jesus. It’s been a bad day. He has just gotten some horrible news. His cousin, John the Baptizer, has been murdered by Herod – his head served up on a platter at the whim of a young girl at a dinner party. I’m not sure Jesus was surprised by this development. He knew something like this was coming. John was a rabble-rouser, he was often in trouble with the authorities. Still – it’s always a shock when something like that happens.
Jesus needs to take some time for himself. So he sets off in a boat looking for some alone time. He retreats to a deserted place, where he can be by himself. Unfortunately, he can’t escape the crowds. They followed him on foot, and when Jesus went ashore, he saw a great crowd.
I’m sure there was a bit of time here as Jesus surveyed all the people waiting for him. He probably closed his eyes and sighed deeply as he realized he wasn’t going to get any time to himself – not yet. But when he opened his eyes, he had compassion for the crowd and healed those who were sick.
As it began to grow dark, the disciples came to him. They knew Jesus was suffering. They knew he needed some time to grieve his cousin. They had compassion on their Teacher and tried to reason with him. “Look, Jesus, this is a deserted place – for you, in terms of your spiritual resources right now, and for the people. Look around. There’s nothing here… We’re in the middle of nowhere. Send the people away for their own good, so they can find something to eat on their own.” But Jesus won’t hear any of it. “No,” he says, “You give them something to eat.”
“But we don’t have enough – we’ve got a couple of loaves of bread and some fish, that’s it.”
“Bring me what you have.”
And miraculously, it all works out. Everyone is fed, and there’s even some leftovers. Whether you read this story as Jesus using his heavenly power to make more food, or you read it as many modern scholars do as the people gathered pulled out their own stash of extra food from under their cloaks and were willing to share – it’s still a miracle.
In the most deserted, desperate and lonely places of life, where hope seems impossible, Jesus demonstrates how God will always provide for what we need. The prophet Isaiah makes much the same point:
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. You that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk even though you have no money, and things seem hopeless, come, enjoy without money and without price.” The issue for Isaiah is not lack of food – there seems to be plenty available. It’s the price that’s the problem – something that is all too real for many people today where everyday groceries seem out of reach. But, Isaiah assures us that God’s gifts are available to all. The spiritual food we need comes for free. When we come for a meal in a deserted place of our own, a place where desperation holds on tight, where a sense of hope is hard to come by, both Jesus and Isaiah assure us that there is more than enough to go around – and it is available to all, regardless of anything that might seek to divide us – that goes for economic position, social status or insider credibility. These stories show us that All are welcome at God’s table.
Biblical scholar Jana Childers has written of this Isaiah passage, saying: “It is as if Isaiah believes that God’s big business with humankind – the thing the heart of God is most after – is to call people to larger and larger versions of life together, to a big tent and a large life fueled and funded by God.”
“This is what the people of God celebrate today every time they approach the Communion table. Every time they offer each other the Cup that brims and the Loaf that stretches to feed all.” “This is what Jesus came for. This is what Jesus died for. This is what his resurrection points us to. This is how the Holy Spirit navigates the 21 st century church. Wooing and Urging. Planting seeds of the ever- expanding love of God.” (1)
At the first church I served as an Associate Pastor in Johnstown, PA, we used to have the tradition of baking different sorts of bread to celebrate World Communion Sunday. People would make all different kinds of breads, in all different shapes and sizes. I remember one particular World Communion, the Senior Pastor was away and our Parish Associate was preaching and I was assisting in worship. When it came time for communion, the preacher said the words of institution over the bread and we each picked up a loaf to tear in half.
Well, the loaf he picked up looked perfect, nicely browned and crusty on the outside, but when he tore it in half, it wasn’t done inside. The dough inside wouldn’t tear – it just kept stretching like a giant rubber band. At first, he panicked a little bit, and looked over at me, asking with his expression, “What do I do?” So I stepped over and he handed one end of the under-baked loaf and we both pulled it farther and farther apart, until we had enough to encircle the whole communion table. We looked like we were pulling salt-water taffy on the boardwalk in Atlantic City.
After a few seconds of this, he and I both realized the ridiculousness of the situation, and we started chuckling – then we heard the congregation start to chuckle as well. Finally, everyone started laughing out loud as our Parish Associate sort of karate-chopped the raw dough to separate the loaf. Fortunately, we didn’t have a problem with any of the other loaves – in fact, when the congregation came forward to be served by intinction, most of them made a point of pulling off a small piece of the baked section of the unbreakable loaf that seemed to stretch forever.
So it is with God’s table. Isaiah reminds us that God calls us to a larger and wider perspective on our life together. There is no price for the gifts of God – everyone is welcome, God’s gifts are meant for all. Jesus gives us an example of this as he provides for the needs of the people with a meal in a deserted place.
These stories show us that all are welcome at God’s table – there is enough for all. Every time we gather at this table we celebrate with a bottom-less cup and a loaf that stretches enough to feed us all.
So, come to the table, my friends, and be nourished for the journey of life.
May God be praised. Amen.
1. Jana Childers, Connections, Year A, Volume 3, Westminster John
Knox Press, 2020, p. 195.
