Lessons from the Leftovers

Homily – Sunday the 28^th of July 2024

The Stories of the Leftovers from around the world

Stories make People. Stories make Theology.

At the young adult’s fellowship last night we had a very interesting conversation on the understanding of the left overs in our own contexts. We were looking at the gospel lesson of today where Jesus feeds the five thousand and we particularly noted- 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.

We had varied perspectives. In Barundi- the left over is considered as the normal next food. Though it is never planned to have left overs in case it happens it is warmed the next day and since all meals are warm and cooked meals it is normal in that context.

In Pakistan in most homes rarely would there be left overs and if there is it is normally shared with neighbours. It was even considered disrespectful to give left over food to the elders- the busurg.

In Palenstine sharing food is part of the culture. If there is a widow, or an orphan or a stranger or a poor person each families thought it was their responsibility to share food with them. It was not the left overs but the part of their food that was shared. Even when fields were gleaned and harvests taken the edges was always left for the poor.

In the German context we were told left overs in the plate was considered impolite- several children grew up hearing- eat all of it, there are several starving in different parts of the world. The ingreidiants from a left over meal could form part of another meal but is seldom considered a full meal later. In German cooking we were told- the mixing happens in the plate and therefore what remains cannot be shared with others.

In Uganda what is left over became part of the next meal. It was also distributed to the poor. The story of the rich man and Lazarus where the poor in the door was neglected was taken seriously as a motif to share what is available. Large houselholds praised God for enough but being large was an excuse for not sharing.

In the Indian context sharing happened even before the cooking. A hand full of rice was kept apart for the poor and the needy before the cooking actually began and sharing with the needy was part of spirituality. In the context of the Pandemic or such crises the heart of the people who cannot but share with the needy comes to the fore.

From Zambia came the story of bakeries and stores that were willing to give away the food and groceries before they became unusable to the poor and the needy. When guests were leaving from a visit mothers give them provisions as a gift to ensure that all have enough to eat.

We had people say that cooking for oneself is much less joyful than cooking for someone else. It is in sharing that the joy of eating becomes manifest. In several contexts the last evenings meal was a whole meal the next day and there were people who also believed that left over food taste better the next day. We have popular joints where food of the previous day was in more demand than fresh food.

Each time we have enough to eat, we are reminded of the overflowing abundance of God but also reminded of people all over the world who suffer from hunger and die without food.

There were several more stories in that exciting discussion.

Let us look at the story again.

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.”

The question is when Jesus could have multiplied it just enough-why did he go beyond into the abundance and why did he say- nothing must be lost.

The Beginning After the End.

Imagine any one of the disciples. Take for instance Philip. Seeing the crowd Jesus asked Philip “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” Send them away.

But Jesus tells them “Ask them to sit down”. What followed was something logic could not explain. The broken bread was enough for all and after everyone had to the full each disciple had a basket full left. Now what do they do with that? The beginning is after the end of the story.

Jesus gathers together all that which was cast aside and would have been forgotten or stamped under foot. Jesus never forgets, never abandons, never sends us away empty. The good news to all who are feeling fragmented, torn apart, binned, cast aside, forgotten, considered left overs is that Jesus counts you precious. Nothing should be lost he tells them. Pope Francis reminds us Human beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded. We have created a “disposable” culture which is now spreading. It is no longer simply about exploitation and oppression, but something new. Exclusion ultimately has to do with what it means to be a part of the society in which we live; those excluded are no longer society’s underside or its fringes or its disenfranchised – they are no longer even a part of it. The excluded are not the “exploited” but the outcast, the “leftovers”. There are the paperless- the ones who are considered not part of even paperless societies just because they have not yet got their papers.

Reaching out and gathering together the left overs are symbolically important. Do not take lightly any small fragment. They can add up to something really good.

We had a food festival last week. Could we not see the tremendous amount of sacrifice that went behind the planning, the purchasing, the cooking, the serving, the sharing, the clearing, the cleaning and then the sharing of the left overs. Everyone who came ate. There was abundance and left overs. There were outsiders, invited ones and people who just walked in. And Gerad commented after the event in a note to us-
Most of all, it is exactly the kind of community building that the church needs to thrive as a church community and to be the kind of welcoming place that others see as a possible home. I heard from two people on Sunday, during the event, that they were planning to make ACF their home. These ministry events are both internally building and outreaches. They matter! Each end marks a new beginning.

The Possibilities with the Left Overs

It is important to note that It’s not leftovers that are wasteful, but those who either don’t know what to do with them or can’t be bothered. (Julian Baggini). With a little imagination, there are a million ways to use up leftovers rather than bin them.

In the latest Hunger Hotspots report (I quote verbattim) covering the period between June and October 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) have issued a joint warning about the escalating food insecurity crisis in 18 critical hotspots comprising 17 countries or territories and one regional cluster. Mali, the Palestinian Territories, South Sudan, and Sudan are of the highest concern, and Haiti is newly added because of escalating violence by non-state armed groups. These areas are experiencing famine or are at severe risk, requiring urgent action to prevent catastrophic conditions. The report emphasizes the critical need for expanded humanitarian assistance in all 18 hotspots to protect livelihoods and increase access to food. Early intervention is crucial to mitigate food gaps and prevent further deterioration into famine conditions. The international community is urged to invest in integrated solutions that address the multifaceted causes of food insecurity, ensuring sustainable support beyond emergency responses to build resilience and stability in affected regions.

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This does not mean people are not hungry else. Around us and in our neighbourhoods are people who are hungry for various reasons. Jesus sees them and the disciples say- send them away. Jesus asks his disciples to give them food and they say- its too expensive. Jesus tells them to ask them to sit down and they say- we have only five loaves and two fish and that is insufficient for all these.

The Church thinking of its responsibility in the public square is called to seriously think of what can be done for the hunger of the other.

The compassion of Jesus that sees the hunger, that intervenes to address the hunger and gathers up the left overs without wasting any is pointer to a practical way of our Christian living.

Look at the critic we received when we said we should engage in the feeding of the street dwellers. The messages included- the numbers would be too many. You would not be able to manage the crowd. It is not our job neither our expertise. There are others doing it, let them do it. Instead of saying- Lets Do It we were addressing the dampners but lo and behold step by step we are getting more and more people on board acknowledging that the hunger of my neighbour is my concern too.

God’s provisions always have seconds and left overs and what we do with- what we have more than what we need- defines what kind of Christians we are.

We had a moving testimony this week- I grew up with very little. Often second hand clothing and eating left overs and yet I was happy. And now when I am able to spare and share how can I not but remember those in the edges and the margins.

Conclusion

Leftovers in their less visible form are called memories. Stored in the refrigerator of the mind and the cupboard of the heart. (Thomas Fueller). Each act of kindness that you do is also etching memories in the hearts of others. They would from the depth of their hearts say- I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink. I was in prison or in the hospital, you came and visited me. And the Lord Jesus would say- the little you did to the least of these you did it unto me.

We must have heard about the fellowship of the least coin. In several homes that are part of it- all small changes- small coins went into a piggy bank. At the end of the year it was brought together to be shared for a purpose. There was enough to create miracles. The prayer of Anna Brigga is the prayer of the FLC for 2024

PRAYER

We lay our broken world

in sorrow at your feet;

haunted by hunger, death and fear,

oppressed by power and hate.

Here human life seems less than profit,

might and pride,

though to unite us all in you,

you lived, and loved, and died.

We bring our broken selves,

confused and closed and tired;

then through your gift of healing grace

new purpose is inspired.

Come, fill us, fire of God,

our life and strength renew;

find us in love, and hope and trust,

and lift us up to you.

Vinod Victor

July 28, 2024