The Human Brain

St. James’ Episcopal Church                                                                    Jocelyn McWhirter
Pentecost 10, Year B
July 29, 2018
 
 
One of my New Year’s resolutions was to learn more about the human brain.
-          I haven’t learned everything, but I’ve learned enough to think I know something
-          and one thing I’ve learned is how our brains measure what we have
-          if we have clean tap water and then the town advises us to boil it before drinking, we devalue our tap water because it was once clean
-          if we enter a contest and win $500 but first prize was $1,000,
we devalue the $500 that we have because we could have had $1,000
-          if our neighbor owns a brand new car and we own a beat-up truck,
we devalue the truck because our neighbor has a brand new car
-          our brains measure what we have against what we once had, or what we could have had, or what someone else has
-          instead of saying, “I have a truck” or “I have $500” or “I have tap water,” we say, “It’s not enough.”
 
That’s what Philip and Andrew are saying in our gospel lesson today.
-          he and the other disciples are with Jesus, and a large crowd has gathered
-          there are 5,000 people, and they have 5 loaves and two fish
-          Philip says, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” Andrew says, “What are fives loaves and two fish among so many?”
-          you have to admit, they’ve got a point
-          1/1,000th of a loaf per person is not going to satisfy anyone’s hunger
-          it’s not enough
 
That’s the brain of Philip and the brain of Andrew. What about the brain of Jesus?
What does Jesus say and do?
-          first, Jesus looks up and sees the crowd
-          he pays attention; he notices
-          and he knows that they are going to need something to eat
-          next, Jesus takes stock of what he has
-          5 loaves, 2 fish, and 12 disciples
-          then he thanks God for what he has
-          finally, he and his disciples distribute it among the 5,000 people
-          and it turns out to be more than enough
-          Jesus uses a little to accomplish a lot
 
For a few years now, this story has reminded me of St. James’ Church.
-          it would be so easy for us to measure what we have and say, it’s not enough
-          other churches in Albion have bigger congregations
-          we used to be able to pay a full-time rector
-          if only we had watched the budget more carefully, we could have avoided some hard times
But, with the support and encouragement of our bishop, we have done what Jesus did.
-          we looked up; we paid attention; we noticed a hungry crowd
-          right in our own neighborhood
-          next, we took stock of what we had
-          a kitchen, a dining hall, a little money, and some willing hearts and hands
-          not very much, considering the size of the crowd
-          but we gave thanks for what we had
-          and then we distributed it
-          and, what with the regular attendance, congenial atmosphere, and good food at our monthly community suppers, it’s been more than enough
 
And that’s not all.
-          again, we looked up; we paid attention; we noticed another crowd
-          this time, kids hungry for reading, right in our own neighborhood
-          we took stock of what we had
-          an energetic priest, a few educators, diocesan funds, and some willing hearts and hands
-          not very much, considering the needs of those kids
-          but we gave thanks for what we had
-          and then we distributed it
-          and it’s been more than enough for four summers of “Reading Camp”
 
Let’s see. What else?
-          more recently, we looked up, paid attention, and noticed another hungry crowd
-          right in our own neighborhood
-          we took stock of what we had
-          some gardening enthusiasts, two former project managers, some available property, a lawyer, some folks who know how to test soil, and no money
-          not very much, considering the great need for fresh food
-          but we gave thanks for what we had
-          and then we distributed it
-          and now we have three community gardens with a tractor, some fruit trees, and an incoming crop that will feed, if not 5,000, then quite a few families
 
Let me be clear that when I say “we” I really mean “you.” Many of you have given these projects a great deal of time and attention. I’ve just been watching from the sidelines. But I’m giving thanks today because we’ve ignored the brains of Philip and Andrew, and we’ve used the brain of Jesus. We’ve used a little to accomplish a lot.
 
My encouragement for us today is, let’s keep it up.
-          I don’t mean, let’s give more time and energy and resources than we actually have
-          I do mean, let’s ignore our brains when they try to tell us that we don’t have what we used to have, or what we could have had, or what someone else has
-          Instead, let’s look up. Let’s pay attention. Let’s keep noticing where the hunger is. Let’s take stock of what we do have. Let’s give thanks for it and then distribute it, trusting that God will use a little to accomplish a lot.
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