I wouldn't blame you if you turned off your radio after hearing me read today's Scripture text. This is a terrible story. It's hard to say "Thanks be to God!" after a story like that. Perhaps we should skip this story and read the next one instead. It's a much happier story about Jesus feeding 5,000 hungry people. Isn't it strange? Herod's horrible banquet runs right into the story where Jesus makes sure that everyone is fed. Mark is a very careful writer. He wants us to hear these two stories together. Even though we didn't hear that other story, I hope you remember at least something about Jesus feeding the 5,000. It's a story found in all four gospels.
As Mark tells the story, it's filled with oppositions and contrasts:
- Jesus withdrew to be alone ... But a great crowd followed him
- It was a deserted place ... But it became an abundant place
- The disciples said, "Send the people away." ... Jesus said, "You give them something to eat."
- We have only five loaves & two fish ... Yet more than 5000 ate with 12 baskets left over
Did you hear the oppositions?
Alone...Crowd
Deserted...Filled
Send them away...Feed them
Too little ...More than enough
But the greatest contrast of all is between Jesus' banquet of life and Herod's banquet of death. Mark has placed these two stories side by side. He wants us to see the stark contrasts between two very different banquets. Hard as it is to listen, let's go back to Herod's story. This feast was not in a deserted place, but in a lavish palace. There wasn't a large crowd, but a select guest list of important officials. Herod's wife, Herodias, was there, even though she shouldn't have been. Herod had stolen her from his brother. John the Baptist had condemned this unlawful liaison, and for that John landed in prison.
Though Herod was a Jew, the empire had replaced Torah for him. He tried not to think about it, especially at his own birthday dinner. But why did he give in to this terrible request? Wasn't it enough that John was in prison? Herod liked to listen to John, which was odd indeed for John preached repentance wherever he went. Was there something inside Herod that remembered God's word, some spark of God that drew him to John's teaching? But he had promised Herodias' daughter that he would give her anything she wanted. "Even half of my kingdom," he said. He never dreamt she would ask for John's head. He was grieved at her request--grieved because he feared the crowd beyond his palace, for they revered John as a prophet. Grieved also because he was still drawn to what John said. But his guests had heard his oath. How could he disappoint his guests? Who knows what the officers might tell someone higher up? So Herod gave the command, and soon the head of John the Baptist was brought out on a platter, as thought it was the last course of the meal. This was a very different banquet. Not the abundance of Jesus' feast. Not twelve baskets of food left over, but a horrifying leftover: John the Baptist's head served on a platter.
Herod could have made a different choice, but the empire had replaced God in his life. Though he loved to listen to John the Baptist, he couldn't risk his own reputation to spare John's life. The empire shaped his values and his decisions. Feeding hungry crowds was not on Herod's agenda. Of course, Rome fell centuries ago, doomed by its expansive victories--too many troops needed in too many far-flung places. That is always the temptation for any nation, including our own. The United States now has military bases and troops in 63 countries. Our military installations cover 30 million acres, making the Department of Defense the world's largest landlord, and our military budget is larger than the next 25 highest spending nations combined.
Is it possible to maintain an empire and feed people who are hungry? The leftovers of empire have almost always been destruction and death--even in the name of peace and security. There is always enough money for weapons, but never enough to feed those who are hungry. Into such a world, Jesus comes with an alternative vision. "The kingdom of God has come near you," he said. Over and over he taught about it, told parables about it, and lived it wherever he went. Jesus brought his kingdom-vision to the crowds who interrupted his solitary time of prayer. When the hour grew late, the disciples said, "This is a deserted place...send the crowds away so that they may go into the village and buy food for themselves." Everything rational shouts, "Good idea!" Herod would have said, "Great idea!" Send them away. But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
But, Jesus, we can't. You have to understand. Hunger is a very complicated global problem. If we give money to poor countries, corrupt leaders divert donations for their own personal use. The needs are too immense--we don't know where to start. I don't have the time or the wisdom to figure out what to do. Even if I did, I'm only one person. I have only five loaves and two fish.
Jesus knows we are perplexed, but my excuses are no better than those of the disciples! Jesus knew long ago what economists and hunger activists tell us now: we have everything we need to end world hunger. It would take $13 billion a year. That's not even 3% of our defense budget. Art Simon was once a parish pastor in a little church on the lower east side of New York City. Everyday hungry people came to his door, and the congregation tried hard to give food to those who came. He knew churches had raised millions of dollars to feed the hungry, but he also knew that one bill passed by Congress could allocate billions of dollars to feed the hungry. So thirty-five years ago, Art Simon founded Bread for the World, a Christian citizens' lobbying organization. He made the case for political advocacy--even if we work at the local food pantry or deliver Meals on Wheels. "Each of us helps to decide how our nation should use its power and wealth in a hungry world," he said. "Each of us." You may already be doing a great deal to end hunger in your community and beyond. Or you may feel guilty and demoralized by everything I've said. What I want you to know--no, that's not it--what Jesus wants us to know is we can do something. That's what Jesus understood when he refused to send the hungry crowd away. "You give them something to eat," he said. We can do something and we can begin today...
Read these two stories in Mark 6 everyday this week. Then ask yourself what you can do to respond to Jesus' call: "You give them something to eat."
Pray for our country and for our leaders. Pray that we will remember hungry people even in the midst of our own economic problems.
Write a letter to your senator or representative to make sure we're doing everything we can to support hunger relief programs.
During these tough times, don't be ashamed if you and your family need food stamps. Everybody has the right to food, including you and your children.
Our lives are filled with choices. Herod chose loyalty to the empire. He presided over a banquet of death. Jesus called his disciples to make a choice: "You give them something to eat." They could have said "no" for they had only five loaves and two fish--just enough to feed themselves. But Jesus called them beyond themselves. They did have something. You have something. And so do I. Jesus blesses and multiplies what we bring. When that happens, there will be a banquet of life for everyone.
Let us pray.
God of abundance, you have showered this earth with blessings. Open our hearts and our hands to those who are hungry, those in our neighborhood, and those in distant lands. Give us courage and compassion so that all your hungry children will be fed. Amen.