Scripture Imagination take three

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias.  A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick.  Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples.  Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.  When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?”  He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”  One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all.  Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.  When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.  When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”

Because our Scriptural imagination needs to see the humor in life.

Because our Scriptural imagination can find meaning in laughter and joy.

Because our Scriptural imagination can make meaning even in jokes.

We hear Philip sarcastically say, "Thanks Jesus, I will run down to Walmart and pick up bread for five thousand...can I have your credit card."

We hear Andrew say, "Look...look...here is a lunch...that I totally now realize doesn't really help the situation as much as I thought it would."

We hear the people in the crowd say, "Um...wait...no one told me it was a potluck...was that in the newsletter?"

We hear the people say, "Um...I will take a doggy bag to go because that was the best bread I have ever had."

What other smiles do you see there just waiting in the margins of this story waiting for us to notice.

Because it isn't only about being on the sidelines OR about sacred serendipity...it is also a holy story that causes a smile to cross my face.

I pray brings you more than a trace of God's grace ~~