According to Matthew, as Jesus prepared to feed the 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes he made an interesting request. “Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass” (Matthew 14:19). Obviously, if you are getting ready to eat a meal you will be more comfortable if you are seated. But usually when my family does manage to dine together someone is always running to the kitchen to get something; salt, napkins, more bread, whatever. Jesus has the crowds sit down, and while not much is made of it I think this is a clear sign that no one is running back and forth to the kitchen. What I mean is that just in case we thought there was anything else going on (for example, a catering truck just happened to appear at that moment) Matthew makes the point that Jesus and the disciples are the only ones who are standing, the only ones who are active in this scene. Jesus has brought forth the miracle and the disciples are handing out the results. The crowds had nothing to do with it.
For us as the people of God there will be times when we need to be on our feet, sharing God’s grace with others. (There’s a Crop Walk in my town in a few days, a good example of God’s people getting on their feet.) But there will also be times when we need to sit on the grass and let God work, times of pure grace over which we have no control. Call them “Mary-or-Martha” moments, situations when the better choice is to be still and listen to what Jesus has to say, or see what God is going to do.
The crowds had nothing to do with the miracle they witnessed that day. They simply received what Jesus offered them, and Matthew helps to make that clear. Sometimes we can only receive as well and acknowledge that God is at work in our midst.
Prayer: Lord, when it is time, help us to be still, to listen, to watch, to let you work in our lives and in our world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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