Father Tim Lemlin
Having the multitude care for themselves would also relieve my feeling of being inadequate. It would allow me to distance myself from people's needs. I wouldn't have to feel their pain or suffer with them. I could remain isolated and disconnected, feeling safely protected behind my feeling that I was doing something good.
Jesus doesn't allow the disciples (and didn't allow me) to simply "dismiss" the people. He challenges them, "Give them some food yourselves." We can hear the exasperation in the disciples' reply, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people." Translated we can readily hear, "Jesus, you are being unreasonable! This challenge is too difficult. We don't have the necessary resources and we have to protect what we have or we will be hungry."
They were also realizing, on an unconscious level, that to accept this challenge would require them to change their perspective. They would no longer be able to hide behind being important people protecting the reputation of Jesus. The challenge that Jesus places before them is to connect with people outside of their safe and small group.
This challenge of Jesus to feed and care for people has not always been accepted in the history of the Church. The temptation to "dismiss" is ever present and has too often surfaced and resurfaced under different names, most always with the intention to protect what is perceived as good.
Jesus' challenge to the twelve disciples reveals his perspective: God dismisses no one. Hence, Jesus' ministry is never about dismissing the hungry, sending away the hurting, or rebuking the needy in body or spirit who come to Him singly or in large numbers. Jesus instead chooses to commune - connect - with all people, even those who are considered sinners, and those who misunderstand and mistreat him. He asks no questions of those who come to hear him teach and to witness his healing power. He sets no prerequisites as to who is fed or who is worthy of what he offers. The people are not screened, interviewed or evaluated beforehand. Undoubtedly there are sinners among such a large gathering. Numerous, as well, are their faults and failures, their shameful thoughts, words, deeds, and decisions. Many who are present probably are numbered among those who are considered unclean. Nevertheless, all are generously fed with food that Jesus took, blessed, broke and gave freely. His food is for sinners on that day in Bethsaida and today.
We have recently heard a few church leaders apparently return to this attitude of "dismissing" certain people from the table of Jesus' Word and Sacraments. Once again the stated intention is to protect. Pope John XXIII on October 11, 1962 offered a few comments following the first day of the Second Vatican Council that speak (I believe) to this need to protect, but from Jesus' perspective. He says, "The Church has always opposed errors. Frequently she has condemned them with the greatest severity. Nowadays, however, the Church prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity. She considers that she meets the needs of the present day by demonstrating the validity of her teaching rather than by condemnation."
The challenge is before each of us today. We are the Body of Christ as much as the consecrated host is the Body of Christ. The two realities are not separate. They are one. When we receive "communion" we are being empowered and challenged to connect - to commune - with each other. Or, as Jesus declares to the disciples who want to dismiss the people (and to us), "You give them something to eat." "Don't send God's people away hungry or condemned for their neediness or their sins. Connect with them. Feel their pain and learn mercy."
We can quickly feel overwhelmed by such a challenge and be tempted to protect ourselves, our institutions, and our way of life. It is much easier to be against someone or something than to live mercy. When we are against someone or something we gain enough distance so that we don't feel the other's pain. We can insulate ourselves with the feeling that we are doing something good. If, however, we accept Jesus' challenge, that which feels impossible for us becomes possible. When we choose to remain connected instead of dismissing, we then make ourselves available to become instruments in the hand of God who makes all things are possible.
